Joseph M. Rosen, M.D.Joseph M. Rosen, M.D.April 17thApril 17th , 2003, 2003

Engineering 005Engineering 005

Re-Designing HumansRe-Designing Humans

Part TwoPart TwoIf Humans were built to LastIf Humans were built to Last

Summary of the Course:Summary of the Course:Re-designing HumansRe-designing Humans

Form and Function (Sci Am March 2001) Form and Function (Sci Am March 2001)

Technologies – surgery, robotics, virtual Technologies – surgery, robotics, virtual reality and genetic engineering reality and genetic engineering

Applications – walking, senses and Applications – walking, senses and internal organs and outward appearanceinternal organs and outward appearance

Re-Design vs. Re-Evolution – changing Re-Design vs. Re-Evolution – changing future generations – Genes for Beautyfuture generations – Genes for Beauty

Critical discovery April Critical discovery April 25,195325,1953

Genotype is a function of the human genome:Genotype is a function of the human genome:

human genome = DNAhuman genome = DNA

DNA is the template for RNA to make proteins:DNA is the template for RNA to make proteins:

Phenotype definition:Phenotype definition:Nature and Nurture in Nature and Nurture in

Humans Humans Phenotype is the expression of nature Phenotype is the expression of nature

and nuture in a species or individualand nuture in a species or individual

Nature is what we inherit from Nature is what we inherit from generation to generation - genotypegeneration to generation - genotype

Nuture is our expression of civilization, Nuture is our expression of civilization, culture, clothes, environment,surgeryculture, clothes, environment,surgery

Human transformation – re-designing humans:Human transformation – re-designing humans:

Lamarck and Lamarck and Nanosurgery:Nanosurgery:

Operating on the Operating on the Germline Germline

Surgery on the Surgery on the genotype to alter genotype to alter form and functionform and function

Limitations of surgery, genome and robotics:Limitations of surgery, genome and robotics:

DNA and the Human DNA and the Human Genome Genome

Genetic engineering Genetic engineering could allow surgery could allow surgery to alter future to alter future generationsgenerations

This would This would dramatically alter dramatically alter choices for human choices for human evolution in both evolution in both form and functionform and function

Recent ability to make major changes in Recent ability to make major changes in evolution:evolution:

Nanosurgery to change Nanosurgery to change future generations by future generations by

human choice human choice Each cell has the Each cell has the

potential to clone potential to clone an entire personan entire person

Hidden genes to Hidden genes to express Wings, express Wings, fins and other fins and other parts ? parts ?

Nature’s information code for life’s Nature’s information code for life’s expression:expression:

WingsWings

Lets Walk first Lets Walk first before we Flybefore we Fly

“ “ flying squirrel”flying squirrel” Built to LastBuilt to Last Lets ‘not’ ageLets ‘not’ age

Anti-Aging:Anti-Aging:Re-designing HumansRe-designing Humans

Human purpose – Human purpose – The Selfish Gene The Selfish Gene

100 Years Young 100 Years Young

Person Designed Person Designed for a Healthy Old for a Healthy Old AgeAge

How do we walk – making How do we walk – making avatar – virtual creaturesavatar – virtual creatures

Mike McKenna thesis work –first virtual Mike McKenna thesis work –first virtual humans :humans :

Using Virtual Reality to Using Virtual Reality to teach us about Walking so teach us about Walking so

we can Lastwe can Last

Mike McKenna thesis work –first virtual Mike McKenna thesis work –first virtual humans :humans :

If Humans were built to last:If Humans were built to last:Flaws and FixesFlaws and Fixes

If Humans were built to last:If Humans were built to last:List of Flaws – Walk this WayList of Flaws – Walk this Way

Bioweapons can Bioweapons can effect the will of effect the will of the nation through the nation through terror and the terror and the economy economy

blowback risk to blowback risk to the enemythe enemy

If Humans were built to last:If Humans were built to last:List of Fixes – Walk this WayList of Fixes – Walk this Way

Bioweapons can Bioweapons can effect the will of effect the will of the nation the nation through terror through terror and the economy and the economy

BW have a BW have a potentially unique potentially unique outcome –can outcome –can change policy and change policy and military strategy military strategy

Re-Designing HumansRe-Designing HumansOther SystemsOther Systems

What other systems need to be modified to remain youngWhat other systems need to be modified to remain young

Getting A HeadGetting A Head

VisionVision

HearingHearing

TracheaTrachea

EsophagusEsophagus

Get a PlumberGet a Plumber

MaleMale

FemaleFemale

If Humans were built to last:If Humans were built to last:Flaws and Fixes-Plan a HeadFlaws and Fixes-Plan a Head

If Humans were built to last:If Humans were built to last:Call a Plumber - MaleCall a Plumber - Male

If Humans were built to last:If Humans were built to last:Call a Plumber - FemaleCall a Plumber - Female

Deformities versus Beauty:Deformities versus Beauty:Re-Think role of SurgeryRe-Think role of Surgery

Cosmetics – Cosmetics – Operating on Normal Operating on Normal people to make them people to make them ‘beautiful’ ‘beautiful’

Curing Aging, Curing Aging, Fatness, CultureFatness, Culture

Some Cultures Some Cultures change their change their phenotype (shape)phenotype (shape)

Surgical Recontruction Surgical Recontruction forfor

deformities is not deformities is not Cosmetic Cosmetic

Plastic surgery to alter the human form - skin:Plastic surgery to alter the human form - skin:

Phenotype alteration Phenotype alteration through the clothes we through the clothes we

wear wear

Human transformation – re-designing humans:Human transformation – re-designing humans:

Phenotype alteration Phenotype alteration through the masks and through the masks and

modifications modifications

Human transformation – re-designing humans:Human transformation – re-designing humans:

Phenotype alteration Phenotype alteration through scarification and through scarification and

modification modification

Human transformation – re-designing humans:Human transformation – re-designing humans:

Cosmetic Surgery NextCosmetic Surgery Next