With advances in genetic engineering and biotechnology, will humanity evolve or go extinct? An intriguing Sapiens book review exploring the future of humanity transformed by technology!
“Seventy thousand years ago, Homo sapiens were just another insignificant animal in a corner of Africa, concerned only with their own survival. Over the next tens of thousands of years, this species became the master of the entire planet and its own ecological destroyer.”
Even if you don’t know the term Homo sapiens, the description above should give you a good idea of what it refers to. It’s us, humanity. Over the past 70,000 years, we humans have achieved countless advancements. Advances in medicine have allowed us to enjoy a 100-year lifespan, and advances in astronomy made us the first species to set foot on the moon. The Industrial Revolution and the Digital Revolution also profoundly transformed human life, while advances in information and technology have led us to a way of life entirely different from before. However, this species will soon meet its end by its own hand. Three methods for this demise are presented: biotechnology, cyborg engineering, and inorganic engineering. We will explain it from the perspective of biotechnology.
The end described in ‘Sapiens’ differs from the extinction of the dinosaurs. Here, the meaning of the end is closer to evolution than extinction. Evolution is a process that occurs slowly over a long period. The law of natural selection, which is today’s theory of evolution, states that various mutations arise, and the species with the characteristics best suited to the environment at that time are selected. Over generations, only the species possessing those characteristics remain. However, biotechnology has enabled humanity to defy the laws of natural selection, acting like a creator. Through genetic manipulation, we are creating entirely new organisms that never existed before: green fluorescent rabbits, super pigs with double the muscle mass, tomatoes that never spoil. We can now manipulate natural selection for our own convenience and profit. These attempts are extending beyond plants and animals to humans themselves.
We have already reached the stage where we can manipulate human genes to prevent or treat specific diseases. CRISPR technology has made gene editing possible, and it is expected to bring revolutionary changes to the treatment of cancer, genetic diseases, and more. Furthermore, reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF) have given great hope to infertile couples and are also presenting the possibility of planning children with desired traits.
In the future, most people will possess any desired traits—such as Kang Dong-won’s looks, Bill Gates’ creativity, or Pacquiao’s strength. Traits refer to the form or characteristics possessed by a living organism. Traits are expressed by genes, and the structure of human genes has already been fully mapped by the Human Genome Project. By identifying the genes determining appearance and implanting Kang Dong-won’s genes there, identifying the genes determining creativity and implanting Bill Gates’ genes there, and identifying the genes determining strength and implanting Pacquiao’s genes there, the above scenario could become reality. Scientists anticipate that a new human species born through this method will emerge in the not-too-distant future. They even anticipate that genetic manipulation could fulfill humanity’s age-old dream of immortality. Could such a new human species truly be considered the same species as us? Species is the most fundamental unit for classifying living organisms. Similar outward appearances do not automatically mean they belong to the same species. Imagine humans and a new human species that look similar, but the new species possesses vastly superior traits and does not age or die. Calling these two the same species would be difficult.
Many ethical debates are unfolding regarding this development that defies nature. Safety issues remain unproven, and even if the technology is developed, initial access will likely create wealth disparities—some can afford it, others cannot. Yet every human fears death and dislikes aging. Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens, states that the desire for immortality is impossible to suppress. He also warns that the development of such technology brings not just biological changes, but also social, ethical, and philosophical problems.
Before this development occurs, humanity must resolve the question of whether this is truly the desired direction of evolution. Once resolved, genetic engineering could lead to humanity’s disappearance and the emergence of a new human species with superior traits. In this way, humanity would become the first species to bring about its own end. Yet deep reflection is also needed on what we stand to lose in this process. Questions about humanity’s identity, ethical standards, and the essence of what it means to be human will become increasingly vital.
