Cure for Cancer?

Ensign Regis writes "MIT's Technology Review is reporting that an Israeli institute has developed "molecular-sized" computers that can detect and eradicate cancer cells. Right now, it only works in test tubes, but it may soon be developed for humans."

Comments

Let's all hope it won't be abused

[e-Trolley]

Given the perversion of mankind, let's all hope they use it for medicine and not for politics.

Re:Would you want to know

[ebrandsberg]

Obviously, you don't have children. If you knew that you would be dead in 10 years, you may do things differently to prepare for it, like saving money for their college instead of for your retirement. It changes things when you know you don't have to prepare for some things, but have time to prepare for others.

Re:Could You Choose Beta Release Medicine?

[Otter]

I understand all that, and maybe in an ideal world people could be trusted to weigh the benefits and risks for themselves and take complete responsibility for their choices. (Maybe)

But in practice, doctors and researchers _are_ expected to not actively kill people and subjects _wouldn't_ take full responsibility for the consequences of any crazy-ass scheme they volunteered for. Therefore, we don't have a system where people read about pre-pre-pre-clinical research like this, show up in the lab and have a grad student start injecting god-knows-what into them.

Re:Cures

[obeythefist]

Seriously, I don't. Give me a test tube full of cancerous cells and I'll give you a million ways to kill them.

Killing cancer cells in a test tube: Easy.

Killing 100% of all cancer cells in a living human body whilst leaving the rest of the cells unharmed with no life critical side effects: Near impossible.

It's a long, long way to go yet.