The Science Gallery is running the Human+ exhibition which looks at the human race and where it is going. Its curators were posed a few interesting questions. Here are some of the responses.
PROF RICHARD REILLY, PROFESSOR OF NEURAL ENGINEERING, TCD
Are we moving into a future where rather then focusing on rehabilitating those with sensory loss or permanent disabilities, healthy individuals will elect to have invasive surgery to “enhance” themselves or their senses?
While there have been great advances in the design, control and interfacing of electronic devices that exist inside the body, as exemplified by cochlear and retinal implants, our level of understanding of how our sensory information is acquired, relayed and processed in distinct areas of the brain is still poor. There remain a number of unsolved technical challenges that need to be overcome to really make such implants function to a level approaching that of the biological originals.
Once we get to this level then these sensory implants may become as commonplace as orthopaedic hip implants are for those with mobility problems. As regards sensory enhancement as popularised in science fiction, this is not possible with the strategy employed by current designs in cochlear and retinal implants, which focus on overcoming the damaged input sensory cells in the cochlear or in the retina. One would have to interface directly at higher sensory processing levels in the brain to impact augmentation. However, given our poor understanding of the complex interaction of different brain areas to process sensory information, sensory augmentation is not possible.
Do you think that there is significant potential for disabled people to become the early adopters of human enhancements?
Those with disabilities are just differently abled. Technology has an important role to play in allowing these abilities to be maximised. As a result these individuals tend to be on the frontline with regard to testing of new devices, but are increasingly becoming more involved in the specification and design of diagnostic aids and devices. These include augmentative and alternative communication systems and mobility devices. User centred design is a new approach within the discipline of universal design, which is best practice for product design.
DR ROSS MCMANUS
HEAD OF GENOMIC RESEARCH LABORATORY, INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE, TCD
On one hand we will all be living longer but will we produce more offspring? Where will babies come from in the future – will sex for reproduction end and will science take over completely?
Genomic dating will be the first step where we can coldly compare notes with potential partners to ensure we dont have the same mutations-and maybe boost our childs immune system while we are at it. We will be able to screen all embryos for debilitating mutations before implantation and this might well overtake passion in making babies! While this might help to greatly improve the health of human populations, I doubt it will stop there. Ultimately genetic combinations which improve the physical characteristics, looks and intelligence of our children will be known and are likely to prove irresistible for those who can avail of them. Genomic dating might be part of this, but sex cells engineered with desirable variants will eventually become feasible. So ultimately science might well supplant spontaneity.
DR JULIANA ADELMAN
RESEARCH FELLOW OF TRINITY LONG ROOM HUB AND HUMANITIES RESEARCHER
As an historian what would you predict for the future of our species?
Historians are probably pessimists by nature. However, I will avoid giving a gloomy forecast. History, particularly environmental history, reminds us that we are a species like any other that must meet specific needs to survive. Humans have proved incredibly adaptable and thereby incredibly successful at the survival game, but we are now facing into a future that looks very likely to challenge that success. The population explosion, depleted resources and a changing global environment will all make their mark on the future of our species. Can human ingenuity find a way out of our present predicament? Possibly, but I imagine that the future of our species might look a lot more like its past: a smaller, more dispersed population with less intensive resource exploitation.