“TRANSHUMANISM ISABOUTmakingpeoplebetter thanwell,” saysDirk
Bruere, oneof the foundingmembersof theTranshumanist Party. “It’s the
technological augmentationof humanity: living longer, faster, higher, better.”
His viewonbodyhacking ismixed: althoughhe’s triednootropic (so-called
“smart”) drugs and tDCS (transcranial direct-current stimulation), bothof
whichcan temporarilyboost intelligenceandmemory, he’s nervousof some
of themoreextremeexamples. Hecites ElizabethParrish,CEOof biotech
start-upBioViva,whoclaims tohave injectedherselfwith telomerase, a
geneticallymodifiedprotein that’sproven toextend life in animalsbut is
completelyuntestedonhumans. “Thebigworry is that anything that can
promote growthcan alsopromote any latent cancers– andnobody knows.
Youdon’t just say let’s inject it into a fewpeople and seewhat happens.”The
flipside is thatwithout brave guineapigs, scientificprocessmoves at a glacial
pace. “Even if therealreadywas apill that could give you20 yearsmoreof
healthy life, youprobablywouldn’t have it on the streets for 15 years. This is
whereDIYbiotechcanmake abigdifference.”
DirkBruere
n
/043
