SCIENCE FOLLOWS SCIENCE FICTION

 

 

Einstein is not the only one to do thought experiments.  The good science fiction writers with a scientific understanding (Michael Crichton), take today’s science and technology and transpose it into a possible future.    Very often, years later, science fiction becomes science reality.

 

Scientific discoveries are happening all the time but get lost in the noise of politics and culture.   Walter Isaacson’s new book Code Breakers has now moved to the best sellers list.  It brings to light the science of CRISPR; but is more a biography of one of the discoverers, Jennifer Doudna.  

 

CRISPR is a technology that allows bio-scientist to edit strings of DNA.  It offers the real possibility of genetically protecting the human race from Alzheimer’s, cancer, leukemia, sickle cell anemia and other inheritable maladies; along with a cure for many virus infections like HIV, flue and Covid…

 

 CRISPR has already been used on humans.  In China, scientist He Jiankui edited the genes of unborn twins Lulu and Nana, protecting them against HIV which carries a devastating stigma in China.

 

There is also a down side of gene editing that could lead to one of the many science fiction future.  Using CRISPR we can cut-and-paste genes outside the body and then reintroduce them, as well as modify genes in-uterus.    Once certain genes are modified, they can become inheritable.   We have been modifying genetic traits for decades through selective breeding.  We have been able to design cattle, dog and cat breeds as well as breeding plants with specific traits.   Now we can do this by DNA cell manipulation.  CRISPR offers the real possibility of designer human beings.

 

Using CRISPR we now have the capability of defining hair color, eye color, height, muscle mass and resistances to illness; but we may also be able to define intelligence, life span, skin tone (race?).   

 

Some biologist believed that certain emotional traits are defined by DNA, such as aggressiveness, religiousness, ethical behavior… in which case they could also be modified. 

 

We could be talking about a total redesign of the human race. Designed warriors, designed workers, a master race?  We have been there before.

 

  And who would control this power?   Likely the people rich enough to fund the research.

 

Of course, Christianity wades in immediately claiming scientist are playing God:  A God that has given us birth defects, infant mortality, infant and childhood diseases, retardation….

 

Science always drags us forward, while religion attempts to drag us backwards.

 

CRISPR can’t be put back in the bottle.  CRISPR is here.  We are at the very beginning of a genetic revolution.   Forty years ago, Apple came up with the personal computer.  It had a blinking cursor on the screen and could do very basic operations, with a 112 kilobytes memory.   Today, forty years later, my Walmart purchased computer has gigabytes of memory and operating capacity far beyond my ability.  Where will genetics be in forty years?

 

If it can be done someone will do it.

If it can be done some country, race or religion with the money to finance will use it: Russia, China, US, Israel, Mormons…  

 

Within the next forty years we are going to see science fiction evolve to science, and a human race that will eventually look back on us as primitives.

 

In a way, I am glad I won’t be there.

the Ol’Buzzard