bioethics
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Elon Musk Is Wrong To Think He Can Save The World By Boosting Our Brains
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has announced a new venture called Neuralink, a startup which aims to develop neural interface technologies that connect our brains to computers. Musk says it’s the best way to prevent an AI apocalypse, but it’s on this point that he’s gravely mistaken.
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The CRISPR Gene-Editing Tool Is Finally Being Used On Humans
A team of scientists in China has become the first to treat a human patient with the groundbreaking CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique. While the results of the trial are uncertain, it’s a historic milestone that should serve as a serious wake up call to the rest of the world.
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Chilling Ad Underscores The Insanity Of Caregiving Robots
To address the burgeoning “loneliness epidemic” and the demands of an ageing population, some think that we should deploy robotic caregivers. A new ad titled “BEN (Biologically Engineered Nursing)”, however, suggests that this is a dreadful idea.
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Monsanto Just Got Access To The World’s Most Powerful Gene-Editing Tool
Agriculture company Monsanto has acquired a non-exclusive global licensing agreement from MIT’s Broad Institute and Harvard to use the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system. The firm will use it to design and grow new seeds and plants, but there are key restrictions on its use to prevent Monsanto from abusing this revolutionary new technology.