Preserved Topic: Prediction for the next million years

Stephen Hawking, you know that guy in the wheelchair who talks funny, gave some predictions. Now I have to tell you that I can stand behind this guy, and not because he moves slow, but because he has a brilliant mind.

"Someone will design improved humans somewhere,...I am not advocating human genetic engineering as a good thing, I'm just saying it is likely to happen in the next million years whether we like it or not." Ok yeah true, I find it hard to believe that over the next millenia, nobody will look at human genes and say, 'I wonder what would happen if I put tab B into slot D, instead of slot C.'

"If we don't destroy ourselves in the next 100 years, I expect we will spread out to planets in the nearby solar system and then to nearby stars." No time specified here, but I'm guessing that this is another millenia prediction. I'm gonna agree with him on this one too, I mean just think about the past millenia. We've seen the advent of toothpaste, chocolate milk, electricity, flight, etc.. It just really pisses me off that over thirty years ago, we went to the moon, and we haven't been back since. I mean, what's the big idea? We're building the ISS but not a moon base? Yeah, good idea guys, don't come to me asking for funding.

"DNA is the basis for all life on earth. The human race and its DNA will increase its complexity quite rapidly." If I were there when this statment came along, I'd be that goofy guy in the back with his hand raised. Just what the hell does that mean? It's a sound good, or sound neat statement, but what does it mean? Maybe I'll have to wait for his next book.

And Hawking stated that advanced life on other planets was unlikely. "If that's so, then why hasn't it spread through the galaxies and visited us. Or could it be they are watching us and letting us stew in our own primitive juices? I doubt they would be so considerate to a lower life form." I think I've watched too many bad SciFi films, the 'let us stew in our own jucies' thing makes me shiver a bit. Of course I've an ego also, hey I'm an artist, so I kind of like the idea of being at least a little more advanced than another race. But at the same time, if we were to find an advanced race maybe they could tell us what, "the human race and its DNA will increase its complexity quite rapidly" really means?

Hmm? Sounds like a... philosophical question! Heh heh. I personally have no plans for leaving the scene any time soon, I'll wait a million years and then send you all a postcard, how would that be?

Your pal, -doc-

Um no duh. His predictions aren't anything to sneeze at. There rather general giving the time frame and there already talk now about starting similar projects. What do you mean we haven't been back on the moon? We go there all the time.

"DNA is the basis for all life on earth. The human race and its DNA will increase its complexity quite rapidly."

- Im assuming he means evolution.

I'm assuming your assumption is correct

My prediction? ....Pain.


I love Mr. T

I doubt he means that humans will evolve naturally a whole lot in the next millenium, because evolotion is so slow that our species hasn't evolved much since we started using primitive tools.

I think Mr. Hawking is referring to genetic engineering again. Already we put genes into simple bacteria to produce human insulin for people with diabetes. Now that our genes are mapped, scientists are going to start to figure out a way to turn genes off (like the gene for sickle cell anemia) or keep such genes from being passed on to offspring.

Our Y chromosome doesn't trade genes with any other chromosome and now only carries a handful of genes. Many other species no longer have a Y through the process of evolution and given enough time, ours will evolve into oblivion as well. I'm sure a scientist one day will take all the useful genes of a Y and place them onto another gene, removing the Y from our gene pool forever.

How long before we start taking genes from other species and introduce them into our DNA? I'm sure the military would love a person with the muscle mass of a bear, the site of a hawk, the smelling capability of a dog, and the hearing of a bat.

After this point scientists will start to learn how to create their own genes. We can actually do this now by haphazardly slapping different acids together, but scientists will learn how to do so in a meaningful way with a better understanding of proteins and their effects on our bodies. They will start adding chromosomes and cleaning up the useless genes out of the ones we already have. At this point, the human species (or at least the people paying for the research) will determine the course of our own evolution and it will naturally happen at a quicker pace that natural selection.
(I imagine longevity will be greatly enhanced and scientists are already working on the problem.)

Um... yeah. That's all I have, class.

[This message has been edited by St. Seneca (edited 01-17-2001).]

I doubt he means that humans will evolve a whole lot in the next millenium, because evolotion is so slow that our species hasn't evolved much since we started using primitive tools.

I think Mr. Hawking is referring to genetic engineering again. Already we put genes into simple bacteria to produce human insulin for people with diabetes. Now that our genes are mapped, scientists are going to start to figure out a way to turn genes off (like the gene for sickle cell anemia) or keep such genes from being passed on to offspring.

Our Y chromosome doesn't trade genes with any other chromosome and now only carries a handful of genes. Many other species no longer have a Y through the process of evolution and given enough time, ours will evolve into oblivion as well. I'm sure a scientist one day will take all the useful genes of a Y and place them onto another gene, removing the Y from our gene pool forever.

How long before we start taking genes from other species and introduce them into our DNA?

I'm sure the military would love a person with the muscle mass of a bear, the site of a hawk, the smelling capability of a dog, and the hearing of a bat.

After this point scientists will start to learn how to create their own genes. We can actually do this now by haphazardly slapping different acids together, but scientists will learn how to do so in a meaningful way. They will start adding chromosomes and cleaning up the useless genes out of the ones we already have. At this point, the human species (or at least the people paying for the research) will determine the course of our own evolution and it will naturally happen at a quicker pace that natural selection.

Um... yeah.

no.

you will all evolve into me someday.

(nickname=twItch)(realname=steve)(email=steve@th-inknet.com)(chatname=8520632)(minutiae= whatthefuck)

...such an evolution takes much time, it is also a character evolution - each person must do their best to find the "twitch within". once we are in touch with this part of our psyche, we can start to lead more fulfilling lives, for the betterment of the human race.

Planet twitch ? That`s not funny you guys, you`re scaring the inmates



Now I`m scared...

"... if we don't destroy ourselves ... "
I'll see what I can do for all human beings.

his "the black holes and the baby universes" and the first non-tutorial book I ever vulenteer to read, (maybe that's why I spelled volunteer wrong), I am just that enthusiastic of the universe. (ops, topic off road)

Drakkorl, I assume your asumption about Jestah's asumption about hawkings "...rapidly" is not as close St. seneca's asumption. Genetic engineering can change genes much faster then nature evolving.

I must say that I trully agree with Mr. Hawking.
Everything is possible in this world we live in nowadays.
Just beware, maybe this millenium is the beginning of all these, well, you know what I mean.