In this blog post, let’s explore the advancements and future of biotechnology, the meaning of the end of Homo sapiens, and the definition of Homo sapiens.
Marvel’s First Avenger, Captain America, possesses muscles and strength beyond what humans can achieve. Many people envy such strength, but now, with enough money, acquiring such muscles is no longer difficult. This is thanks to the advancement of biotechnology. It means the path to human enhancement, once thought to exist only in comics, is not far off. The future of biotechnology will welcome the birth of enhanced humans, superhumans, genetically modified from birth to possess tall stature, handsome faces, and high intelligence. However, excessive technological advancement has always raised concerns. Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens, argues that such advances in biotechnology and genetic manipulation could ultimately lead to the end of Homo sapiens. So, what exactly does the end of Homo sapiens mean, and how far has biotechnology advanced so far?
First, what is ‘Homo sapiens’, and what does the expression ‘the end of Homo sapiens’ mean? The English term Homo sapiens literally translates to ‘wise human’. From a biological perspective, it is defined as one species among primates. The meaning of ‘end’ varies significantly depending on how we interpret this definition of Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens can be considered an intelligent life form like humans, or it can be accepted as a single special species like modern humans. In the following discussion, the definition of Homo sapiens will be interpreted as the latter. It is based on the premise that if many genes change, intelligence becomes excessively high, or parts of the body are replaced with robots, it can no longer be considered Homo sapiens. In other words, while human-like intelligent life may not become extinct, we might no longer be able to call that life Homo sapiens. To easily grasp the importance of definition, let’s use Shakespeare’s play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ as an analogy. The main point is that we need to clarify what is meant by ‘a pound of flesh’. That is, a pound of flesh could be thought of simply as flesh and blood, roughly a pound. However, it could also be interpreted as considering only flesh, excluding blood, and accepting it as an exact pound, accounting for all significant digits. The same applies to Homo sapiens.
Second, let’s examine which biotechnologies make creating superhumans possible. Currently, the reason human biotechnology research is lagging is always due to political and ethical issues. In pigs, it has become possible to genetically engineer pigs with reduced fat content as desired. In insects, technology has advanced to create insects with intelligence six times greater than normal. These technologies are always just a slight modification away from being applicable to humans. If clinical trials become feasible, altering human intelligence from birth is only a matter of time. The same applies to mapping the entire human genome. In essence, once this is complete, we will know which proteins and which codes determine specific human traits. Just as we can disassemble a complex entity like a car and understand which parts make it move forward and which determine its direction, we can then simply replace those parts to fix a problematic car. The same applies to humans. If we know a specific gene is responsible for a part of our body being sick, we could remove that gene and replace it with a normal one. This technology is absolutely not a distant future story.
So far, we’ve explored the development and future of biotechnology, the meaning of the end of Homo sapiens, and the definition of Homo sapiens. The end of Homo sapiens will not be caused by any other species. Our own greed will ultimately bring about our demise. For example, suppose we develop a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. But what if this treatment becomes a memory-enhancing drug for healthy individuals? What if we create a powerful robotic arm for people who have lost the use of their arms, but ordinary people want to attach it to gain superhuman strength? In truth, there is no way to prevent procedures that go beyond the purpose of treatment, aimed at becoming stronger or smarter. Given more time, we could eventually manipulate genes from birth to create superhumans. Just as one paints a wall any desired color, we could replace specific genetic components to produce people with superior intelligence or height at will. Furthermore, individuals whose bodies are largely robotic would emerge. Can we truly still call this Homo sapiens? Even if everyone gains Captain America-like abilities and Winter Soldier-like arms, are they still modern humans? The end isn’t something grand. It’s merely the beginning of change. And this change is nothing more than the result of human greed and desire.
