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An Alternate Human

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the better-than-the-original dept.

B0b Barker writes "What has six limbs, a prehensile tail, its brain in its chest, and reproductive organs in its mouth? The alternate human designed by biologist PZ Myers in Remaking Humanity, a story in Forbes.com's package on Reinvention. It may sound fantastic, but researchers are already working to re-build DNA, proteins and cells in a new field called synthetic biology, and we may have to meet these bug-eyed freaks sometime in our lifetime."

2 of 450 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The problem of nerve impulse conduction by Zordak · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Wait a minute, are you questioning the scientific authority of an article in Forbes, the leading peer-reviewed, highly-respected scientific journal with a proven and unblemished history of unimpeachable accuracy?

    Who was it that called Forbes something like a sort of corporate porn for middle management?

    --

    Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
  2. Re:The problem of nerve impulse conduction by cmallinson · · Score: 5, Insightful
    More distance between the brain and the sensory organs also presents the problem of having greater risk of damage to those (now longer) nerves. With the brain in the head, a blow to the neck can cause paralysis of the limbs. With the brain in the torso, a blow to the neck (or perhaps even lower vertebrae) would cause paralysis of the face, as well as rendering the individual deaf and blind. As bad as it would be to be quadriplegic, I'd take it over the alternative.

    As far as I'm concerned, if I'm going to lose my head - my brain may as well go with it.