and the key there is telomerase activity. the anti-aging problem hasnt been solved at all by this discovery, which is merely a modified physiological state leading to prolonged survival. the true anti-aging key is to figure out a way to artificially activate telomerase past the embryonic stage of animal development. if we do that then our cells will be able to replicate our genetic code indefinitely without having to worry about genetic deterioration and telomere destruction.
This is the type of technology that spurs controversy because of the fact that it isolates humans from the actual act of killing. While manned weapons systems today already provide a level of isolation in the act of killing (this comes from watching footage of AH-64 Apaches in Iraq where the gunship is miles away and the targets have no idea they are being watched and of Spectre gunships in Afganistan that pick of individuals with the equivalent of an airborne howitzer from near six miles away) this will only serve as a platform to somehow justify the act of taking another human life. Even better, we can do it remotely now. While I realize the importance of trying to protect American soldiers, this type of technology only serves to debase and marginalize the lives of those that are killed by such a weapons platform
Slashdot Mirror
and the key there is telomerase activity. the anti-aging problem hasnt been solved at all by this discovery, which is merely a modified physiological state leading to prolonged survival. the true anti-aging key is to figure out a way to artificially activate telomerase past the embryonic stage of animal development. if we do that then our cells will be able to replicate our genetic code indefinitely without having to worry about genetic deterioration and telomere destruction.
This is the type of technology that spurs controversy because of the fact that it isolates humans from the actual act of killing. While manned weapons systems today already provide a level of isolation in the act of killing (this comes from watching footage of AH-64 Apaches in Iraq where the gunship is miles away and the targets have no idea they are being watched and of Spectre gunships in Afganistan that pick of individuals with the equivalent of an airborne howitzer from near six miles away) this will only serve as a platform to somehow justify the act of taking another human life. Even better, we can do it remotely now. While I realize the importance of trying to protect American soldiers, this type of technology only serves to debase and marginalize the lives of those that are killed by such a weapons platform