One step closer to gattaca

Thorn said:
I can also see this as an important step in developing gene repair technology, in which the embryo could be preserved but the genetic defects could be corrected in time so that the child would be born healthy. That may be coming too.

Years ago I had a friend who had her tubes tied because she had Type I diabetes, which is genetically transmitted, and didn't want to pass that on. With this technology she could have perhaps had her own children.
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In time I would think most body parts could become easily replaceable except for the brain which we apparently have very little knowledge about still. I always liked the idea of the movie the 6th day where they copy your memory and then past it into a clone of yourself.
 
uscitizen said:
Yes but as far as humanity misusing technology I have learned that the glass half full approach is more accurate.
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You pointed out one ethical concern; there are others and always will be. The trick is to try to avoid those and the means of doing that may not be apparent until the technology has been developed. Surely we shouldn't stop trying to improve the lot of humans because of the potential for abuses? We should try to anticipate those and head them off wherever possible.

One important required course both in Med School and in Doctorate programs in the biological sciences is Medical or Scientific Ethics (tailored to the venue). I'm surprised that it took so long to implement; wasn't a requirement when I went through but I was lucky to have mentors who were the personifications of sound ethics.
 
Chapdog said:
In time I would think most body parts could become easily replaceable except for the brain which we apparently have very little knowledge about still. I always liked the idea of the movie the 6th day where they copy your memory and then past it into a clone of yourself.
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That really is Sci-Fi! For a long time, people were looking for the "engram" that was supposed to represent single memories in the brain. In fact, memories aren't stored in single places, but arise from stimulation of networks of cells that were stimulated shortly after the information/experience first took place. I love those sci-fi proposals, though, because they make people think about these things.
 
Thorn said:
That really is Sci-Fi! For a long time, people were looking for the "engram" that was supposed to represent single memories in the brain. In fact, memories aren't stored in single places, but arise from stimulation of networks of cells that were stimulated shortly after the information/experience first took place. I love those sci-fi proposals, though, because they make people think about these things.
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Yeah I think the storage of memories is arrayed differently in most people brains.
 
Onceler said:
"who he still feels the need to torment even though Cypress is no longer here"

The Cypress humiliations of Superfreak were epic. Cypress would actually stick with him as he tried to keep threads going w/ his usual "last word" thing after hours...he couldn't escape.

That was good entertainment.
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QFT
 
Darla said:
I'm afraid of death, but I don't want to live forever.

I'm very conflicted.
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That's a shame, you'll be reborn whether you want to live forever or not. (Gotta do my part to sound as sure of everything as all the Christians seem to want to make us believe they are.)
 
Damocles said:
That's a shame, you'll be reborn whether you want to live forever or not. (Gotta do my part to sound as sure of everything as all the Christians seem to want to make us believe they are.
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See that, I would like. But I don't believe it because it would be what most everyone would like. Too good to be true.
 
Darla said:
See that, I would like. But I don't believe it because it would be what most everyone would like. Too good to be true.
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Too good to be true would be if you remembered everything from previous lives and thus were capable of continuing as "you" the whole time rather than just when you're "dead".
 
Darla said:
I'm afraid of death, but I don't want to live forever.

I'm very conflicted.
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When Chap wrote about being able to extract your consciousness & put it into a new clone of yourself, I cringed a little. I know people that would want to live forever if they could; I've always been fine with the 75-80 year time limit we have. My mom has told me that I'll feel differently when I get there, but I doubt it.

I'm actually not that afraid of death. I'm kind of afraid of how I might die, and hope there is not much pain involved, but the actual aftermath doesn't scare me at all.
 
Onceler said:
When Chap wrote about being able to extract your consciousness & put it into a new clone of yourself, I cringed a little. I know people that would want to live forever if they could; I've always been fine with the 75-80 year time limit we have. My mom has told me that I'll feel differently when I get there, but I doubt it.

I'm actually not that afraid of death. I'm kind of afraid of how I might die, and hope there is not much pain involved, but the actual aftermath doesn't scare me at all.
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I envy people who feel the way you do. I have gotten better about it, and I'm hoping that by the time I'm old (well if I get lucky enough to get old) I will be where you're at and feel peaceful about.

But as far as the how, yeah, I think that's something we all hope is really quick.
 
Onceler said:
When Chap wrote about being able to extract your consciousness & put it into a new clone of yourself, I cringed a little. I know people that would want to live forever if they could; I've always been fine with the 75-80 year time limit we have. My mom has told me that I'll feel differently when I get there, but I doubt it.

I'm actually not that afraid of death. I'm kind of afraid of how I might die, and hope there is not much pain involved, but the actual aftermath doesn't scare me at all.
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My grandmother died at age 95. When she was about 92-or-3, she told me that she was "ready to go" -- I was horrified. Much later, I began to understand what she meant. This woman who had been so tremendously vital and active was becoming more and more physically frail, couldn't even hold a teacup any more, yet her mind was very sharp. For her, it must have been like living in a close prison, horrible, almost torture.

Also, I think that perhaps you reach a point where you just simply get sick and tired of people, same old situations, conflicts, stupidities, etc. Unless you're actively involved in learning and developing and discovering, I can see life becoming unbearably stagnant.
 
Thorn said:
My grandmother died at age 95. When she was about 92-or-3, she told me that she was "ready to go" -- I was horrified. Much later, I began to understand what she meant. This woman who had been so tremendously vital and active was becoming more and more physically frail, couldn't even hold a teacup any more, yet her mind was very sharp. For her, it must have been like living in a close prison, horrible, almost torture.

Also, I think that perhaps you reach a point where you just simply get sick and tired of people, same old situations, conflicts, stupidities, etc. Unless you're actively involved in learning and developing and discovering, I can see life becoming unbearably stagnant.
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Also if you live long enough to lose everyone you ever cared about, that has got to suck and be a terribly alone place.
 
Onceler said:
When Chap wrote about being able to extract your consciousness & put it into a new clone of yourself, I cringed a little. I know people that would want to live forever if they could; I've always been fine with the 75-80 year time limit we have. My mom has told me that I'll feel differently when I get there, but I doubt it.

I'm actually not that afraid of death. I'm kind of afraid of how I might die, and hope there is not much pain involved, but the actual aftermath doesn't scare me at all.
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You shall die in your sleep at the age of 84. Nice spring day. It shall be quite peaceful for you.

Darla on the other hand *cold shivers*... even I don't like thinking about what is going to happen to her.

:burn:
 
Darla said:
Also if you live long enough to lose everyone you ever cared about, that has got to suck and be a terribly alone place.
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That's happening now to my mother-in-law. She still has her children (and daughters-in-law) but all her peers are gone. She seemed to take quite a sharp decline when her last old friend (old as in the original group of friends) died recently. We spoke last night and she was sure to tell us both how much she loved us; we're all afraid each time that it might be the last time we talk together.
 
GOD said:
You shall die in your sleep at the age of 84. Nice spring day. It shall be quite peaceful for you.

Darla on the other hand *cold shivers*... even I don't like thinking about what is going to happen to her.

:burn:
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Oh that is awful SF. You shouldn't say things like that, how woudl you feel if I got hit by a car next week and ended up in a vegetative state?
 
Thorn said:
That's happening now to my mother-in-law. She still has her children (and daughters-in-law) but all her peers are gone. She seemed to take quite a sharp decline when her last old friend (old as in the original group of friends) died recently. We spoke last night and she was sure to tell us both how much she loved us; we're all afraid each time that it might be the last time we talk together.
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Oh I'm sorry. It is very sad to get very old, but dying young is worse.
 
Darla said:
Oh that is awful SF. You shouldn't say things like that, how woudl you feel if I got hit by a car next week and ended up in a vegetative state?
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He'd probably love finally having someone who can debate on his level.

How's the shoulder, anyway? Did you get addicted to the painkillers?
 
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