Genomics is a baby step in the process of unraveling who we are. Baby structures in the sense that they are linear structures.
The distance between discovery of a sequence and medical application is arduousÖbut despite that we are learning the workings of life. In referencing the previous lecture, we are exploring, we are mapping the territory of biology.
Important questions are who is leading the exploration, who is taking control, and what will happen to these new domains.
There are two major directions.
The insertion of this information into into non-living things. Nanotechnology. Hardware. Software.
The genomics revolution. Proteomics. Pharmocomogenoics. (Tailored drugs). Seizing control of our evolutionary future. Life is taking conscious control of itself. Wetware.
How are these two directions related?
It will change what we feel. (mind altering, emotion altering pharmaceuticals)
It will change how we have children.
It will change how long we live.
It will change what it means to be aliveÖto be human.
As we learn our vulnerabilities, we will change from a reactive to proactive medicine.
We are only different by 1/1000 of genetic material. But as competing biological organisms, we are extremely aware of these differences. The differences affect our choice of mate, aging, choice of shortstop. (This is the day after the Yankees won yet again).
A question from the audience: After providing examples of cancer, flesh eating bacteria, asbestos, PCBs. Could be being on the boat be the thing that takes us out? (People who got onto the Titanic also thought it was the boat to be onÖ)
Speaker: Taking a historical perspectiveÖ50 years ago, living to age 45 was a good thing. I am not of the opinion that carcinogens are all man-made.
Alzheimers, Parkinsons disease are now an issue.
(My mental response- these were not an issue before people lived this long).
Speaker: We are talking about dangers that people would have laughed at in the 18th century.
Posted by weez at October 17, 2003 09:10 AMIf a little knowledge is dangerous, where is a man who has so much as to be out of danger?
Posted by: penis enlargement at November 26, 2004 09:19 AMMetaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct, but to find these reasons is no less an instinct.
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