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Oh, and just in case no one realized this: Contrary to popular Sci-Fi movies you could not change the DNA of a developed organism, that's you, and have that organism mutate or morph into another organism. Such a radical alteration to the DNA would result in the host's death, or permanent illness. I'm sure this is quite the blow ;)
Well that's not totally true. When I say not *totally* true, there is a 'theoretical' method for re-engineering a currently living subject.
Granted, we are nowhere near the level of technology to actually *do* it, but the theories behind a Proteus Virus (Depicted in Cyberpunk) are at least *possible* with our understanding of biology, physics, and genetics.
Basicly what a Proteus virus is is part retro-virus, part nanotech delivery system. How it works is a nano-tech vector introduces a virus into every cell in the body (Or at leasy 95% from all major organs), but does not actually release the retro-virus until total saturation is complete. Before you release the virus and re-write the cells DNA chains, it would be necessary to immerse the subject in a heat-dissipating fluid, as well as nutrient bath. It's been shown in experiments on very small multi-celled organisms that re-engineering of this method causes the cells to produce a whole lotta heat energy.
Anyways, once complete saturation is achieved, you can release the virus and every cell in the body is altered at once.
Why is all this required? Becuase if you try and do anything piecemeal, the body starts to recognize the mutated cells as foriegn matter and attacks it like it would attack an infection. By changing the whole body's DNA at once, (combined with some imuno-suppressive therepy for a few days), the body doesn't have time to recognize the new cells as foriegn matter.
As I said before, the closest we have the tech for for this application is tiny multi-celled organisms (4-5 cells at most, must check my refernces). But again, at least the theory is there...
Received on Sat Sep 06 2003 - 02:25:48 CDT