An anthropologist specialist told when people will become half computers and will be able to give birth to "designer" children
Over the next 200 years, the development of technology may lead to the emergence of organisms whose sensory organs will be replaced by technical devices. Such a creature may no longer be human from a biological point of view. This was told to Izvestia by anthropologist, speaker of the popular science lecture hall "Open a new one" of the Polytechnic Museum Elena Sudarikova. The specialist also mentioned the global challenges that humanity will face in its development. These are uncontrolled epidemics, genetically modified offspring and deep space exploration. About this, as well as about how the popular "Brunches with a scientist" are held in the capital, — in the material of Izvestia.
"Iron Men"
The brain is human, and everything else is artificial. Such people may appear on Earth in the perspective of the next two centuries. Such a scenario is possible if the current pace of scientific and technological progress and trends in the development of global society continue. Elena Sudarikova, an anthropologist, popularizer of science, former senior researcher at the research Department of the State Darwin Museum, told Izvestia about this. She became a guest of the next lecture hall of the Polytechnic Museum "Discover the New", which was held on August 24 in Moscow.
— With the development of technology, we are becoming weaker. We have bad joints due to the fact that we don't move much. Our eyesight is falling due to constant work at the computer. In general, in the course of the complexity of our culture, we lose a lot of important physical properties. But we have learned to return them to ourselves with the help of artificial materials," the specialist explained.
As an example, the scientist cited eye lenses, dental implants, heart valves printed on a 3D printer, and many other devices that can either replace a lost human organ or improve its functionality.
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— In the future, technologies will develop. Naturally, this will lead to the fact that a person will become like the ship of Theseus, whose masts, deck and planks have been replaced… But if we replace the whole person and leave only the brain the same, will it still be a person or not? — the anthropologist asked a rhetorical question.
Such an organism will not be able to use the receptors and receive information with the help of the senses. As a result, the brain will switch to digital mechanisms, and this can no longer be called human thinking, Elena Sudarikova expressed her opinion. At the same time, the specialist considers the process of cyborgization positive.
— From the point of view of biology, it is important that people with different genotypes survive, since it is unclear what problems humanity will have to face in the future and which forms will be more profitable as a result. Diversity gives people a chance to cope with various crises," the specialist explained.
At the same time, the scientist noted that the described scenario is not the only one, since the development of mankind is influenced by many natural, economic and political factors that cannot be calculated in advance.
Global challenges
One of the significant factors in the evolution of mankind, according to Elena Sudarikova, may be the development of genetic engineering. As a result, children with programmed external signs and character traits may appear in the near future. Among scientists, they were called "designer" or "designed".
— There are problems with gene modifications. They are related to ethical issues. But on the other hand, the family has security guarantees that a healthy child will be born with functions that will help him to be successful in the type of society to which his family belongs," the scientist said.
A shot from the TV series "Brought up by wolves"
Image Source: Photo: HBO Max
Reflecting on global challenges, Elena Sudarikova noted the vulnerability of humanity against infections. They are formed as a result of collective weakening of immunity and uncontrolled use of antibiotics. As a result, bacteria evolve faster than new means of counteraction appear. This is due to weakened human organisms.
For example, when a person has a constant sore throat, he treats it with various means. Adapting to them, microbes go through several stages of adaptation, and an invulnerable superstam is formed. Such microorganisms can cause epidemics that humanity will not be able to control.
Who will fly into deep space
One of the factors that can provoke the emergence of a new kind of man will be the active exploration of outer space by people, Elena Sudarikova believes. However, millennia must pass for this.
— If a large population of earthlings turns out to be on another planet, then only in a thousand to one and a half years the first minor changes will be noticeable. In 50 thousand years, the changes will become significant. At the same time, the species will still be able to freely interbreed with those remaining on Earth," the anthropologist said.
She noted that the relationship of the inhabitants of the Earth with future colonies, with their proper development, can be very good. A similar example on our planet is India, which endured colonization quite well and received many benefits from it. And now the Indian civilization itself launches advanced space missions.
— Technical introductions into the human body will not lead to special changes in it, as the appearance of, for example, glasses did not lead to this. At the same time, it is necessary to develop biotechnologies. That is, if there is not enough hand, it is better not to attach an artificial one, but to grow a native one. Also, a natural eye lens is better than a plastic one. In practice, it is still impossible to do this, but in theory we are already close to such possibilities," Stanislav Drobyshevsky, another well—known Russian anthropologist, associate professor of the Department of Anthropology at the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University, expressed his point of view to Izvestia.
A shot from the movie "Prometheus"
Image Source: Photo: Brandywine Productions Ltd.
In his opinion, at first biotechnologies can be used as a treatment, and in the future they will also allow the improvement of the human body.
— If humanity maintains the current pace of development, then in the direction of the development of technical devices for the "upgrade" of the human body in 300 years we can get full cyborgs. At about the same time, we will learn how to create ichthyanders — fish people -similar creatures using biotechnologies. In the future, we will breed new types of people capable of existing in inhumane conditions. They will explore deep space," the anthropologist summed up.
At the same time, he noted that in most countries of the world the development of such technologies is limited at the level of legislation. This will continue until ethical issues are resolved.
At the meetings of the "Discover New" lecture hall, which are regularly held by the Polytechnic Museum in the format of "Brunches with a scientist", guests can hear what leading experts say about the most pressing scientific problems of our time, as well as ask them their questions.
— Education and popularization of science have always been the main tasks of the Polytechnic Museum. The popular scientific lecture hall "Discover New Things", informal, open meetings with scientists are one of the modern forms of solving these problems," Dmitry Kozhanov, Director General of the Polytechnic Museum, commented on the meeting with the scientist.
According to the organizers, the Polytechnic Museum supports and develops the most diverse formats of interaction between scientists and people who are interested in science.
Andrey Korshunov
