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We often talk about how technology is changing the world at a pace we can’t keep up with. How driverless cars could see the end of millions of jobs, and the decline in hundreds of thousands of accidents that occur each year, or how artificial intelligence could help cure cancer, or potentially turn on us, leading to the end of civilization. While these futures are fascinating and scary to think about, one topic that is rarely discussed is how biological technology is going to change the world in even more staggering ways. I’m not talking about the development of new drugs or better EpiPens, but ideas like creating seeds that could one day grow into a fully fledged house, or growing human organs on computer chips to find cures for diseases, or even growing an entire human inside a pig.
On this week’s episode of Inside the Hive, I talked with D.A. Wallach, a rockstar turned investor, who explains how we are on the cusp of a biological revolution that could make the computing era seem like a tiny blip in history. There are, of course, lots of ethical and moral issues that come with these advancements, as Wallach points out. For example, when we can edit the genes of the next generation, could we save society from potential apocalyptic war by making people more empathetic? Or, will that lead to the demise of humanity as we become characters in a Portlandia sketch, unable to do anything because we are too polite. And then there’s the potential reality that a rogue nation, like North Korea, could edit the genes of their next generation to be killing machines. It’s a fascinating conversation, and one that will leave you terrified. Enjoy!
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