Gene hacking and decentralized computation
Biohacking on a budget enabled by the massive decentralized blockchain supercomputer
A new article on gene hacking got me thinking about how in cryptospace we will soon have the technology to access super computing from our smart phones or tablet devices. The cost of genome sequencing is going to be under $1000 if it isn't already and with access to machine learning and computation resources being decentralized it means anyone will be able to alter their genes. The technology to do gene alterations can be done using CRISPR or some more rogue yet lesser known techniques.
Zayner, a biohacker–basically meaning he experiments with biology in a DIY lab rather than a traditional one–was giving a talk called “A Step-by-Step Guide to Genetically Modifying Yourself With CRISPR” at the SynBioBeta conference in San Francisco, where other presentations featured academics in suits and the young CEOs of typical biotech startups. Unlike the others, he started his workshop by handing out shots of scotch and a booklet explaining the basics of DIY genome engineering.
There are of course risks if a person modifies genes they do not understand. The technology and more importantly the accessibility and lower barrier to entry will mean more people will understand the genetics technology or perhaps their intelligent agents will understand it on their behalf. Gene therapy for example may be able to make a person immune to HIV for instance as some people have a gene which allows their immune system to fight HIV. Gene therapy may also reduce all sorts of risks or even slow aging if it is figured out the genes which can help.
Perhaps the most interesting quote:
.“You don’t need to know what promoter to use to make this gene or this piece of DNA work,” he says, using some technical terms for the DNA engineering process. “You don’t want to know what terminator to use, or origin of replication . . . The DNA programmer should know how to do that stuff. But the only thing you should have to know is, alright, I want to engineer a mushroom to be purple. That’s as difficult as it should be for a human being to genetically modify something. All of that’s totally possible–it’s just building the infrastructure and platform so someone can do that.”
And should that platform be decentralized, run in network fashion, accessible to all humanity? These are questions of debate but the world will be very different if morphological freedom is respected. In a world with morphological freedom what happens to archaic concepts like "race"? A lifeform which can alter it's own genetics by programming new genes into itself with the help of machine learning is where we are today. Tomorrow it could even be so advanced that a lifeform's genetics could be entirely directed by AI which programs or makes changes as necessary.
Currently AI is not yet sophisticated enough to replace the human researcher and is only just an aid to that research. Human researchers are conducting experiments on embryos in a trial and error based approach:
Dr Niakan said: “One way to find out what a gene does in the developing embryo is to see what happens when it isn’t working.
Over time from this approach we will be able to deduce what different genes do and populate a database. The machine intelligence can then process this information to help with simulations or to suggest approaches to the human researchers. Over time as AI becomes more capable of doing research and science then someday in our lifetime it will all be conducted by intelligent agents which will be able to run thousands of simulations of gene combinations. Utilizing a blockchain data structure AI and decentralized computation can enable a situation where no specific family or group has a monopoly or exclusive benefits from gene hacking.
What are your thoughts on this?
References
- https://www.fastcompany.com/40477808/genetic-modification-is-just-an-injection-away-if-youre-feeling-lucky
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genome_editing
- http://www.nature.com/news/crispr-gene-editing-is-just-the-beginning-1.19510
- https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/science/gene-editing-human-embryos.html
- http://www.newsweek.com/crispr-gene-editing-cancer-diabetes-bioterrorism-jennifer-doudna-646848
- http://www.newsweek.com/crispr-gene-editing-bioethics-nightmare-645054?utm_source=internal&utm_campaign=right&utm_medium=related2
CRISPR is real and is coming. There are alot of ethical issues surrounding the issue of CRISPR of which humanity will not be able to have a proper discussio about before countries who simply do not have ethics and long-term repercussions at the front of their to-do list will simply begin it's testing.
It will not be long before the very genetically-modified baby will be born, and this is something we have to pay close attention to.
There is a great video by "In A Nutshell" on the subject that I recommend anyone who is interested on the subject to check out.
I guess I'm in the minority when I say that this scares the Hell out of me.
We've already done immeasurable damage to ourselves through GMO food - why do we think we can actually help ourselves by tinkering with people?
Just because the science of the day says it's better or it's more socially acceptable ("preventing" disease) doesn't mean it won't be later judged to be harmful.
An easy example of this: margarine. In the early 1900's when it's popularity rose, margarine was hailed as a godsend because it was cheaper, didn't use animal-based fats and had a longer shelf-life. Now we know that our grandparents were really just pumping us full of cancer and heart attack causing trans-fats.
You are absolutely right! Genetic modification of genes has massive ramifications which are from yet understanding. It will happen nonetheless, for the outright benefit of doing so for soverign nations, especially outside of NATO will inevitably choose to utilize to their advantage.
This is happening regardless if we like it or not, the question now, would be, what can and should we do to manage this?
My understanding is that GM food is actually pretty safe. Safer in some ways than non-GM, because it is disease resistant and does not require as much pesticide use.
GM therapies for people could overcome cancer and heart disease directly, to the point where trans fats are harmless. It takes an entire lifetime for trans fats to cause the kind of damage you are talking about. There are also healthier forms of margarine you can use now that we know about that, which actually will reduce your risk relative to butter / animal fat. (But it's still calories so if you eat a lot you will get fat and this will increase your risk.)
The main reason we have heart attacks and cancer to begin with is aging. Good luck curing that with natural approaches only. No matter what natural plants you eat, your body will slowly degrade. GM presents us with the amazing possibility of living hundreds of years. It's artificial, and that's a good thing. Nature is out to get us, and wants to kill us in our first century of life. That sucks!
Great article! I like refs and it was a lite read while also being informative. My fave quote was "Unlike the others, he started his workshop by handing out shots of scotch and a booklet explaining the basics of DIY genome engineering" I #biohack (32 years) but I don't have a lab like that yet. Still working on my environment (epi-genetics) before I change any genes! Cheers! www.steemit.com/@iamericmorrison
Interesting. I really like the last part: "Utilizing a blockchain data structure AI and decentralized computation can enable a situation where no specific family or group has a monopoly or exclusive benefits from gene hacking."
We'll see what the future brings to us!
Wow... awesome post. Very enlightening. Am not in the scientific field so its good to know how far it has come. From what i understand, the biohacking and genetics is the real game changer. Thanks for sharing!