Natural Science Forum / Biology / Biology / March 2008

in a previous posting i reproduced the following email sent to a
researcher at tokyo university last year:

Dear Nobukazu Watanabe,

Thank you for receiving my phone call this morning from England. I
have studied developmental biology to a sufficient extent so as to put
forward a proposal for further research. I understand that silencing
of gene expression leads to the inhibition of head development in
various animal models. This leads to the possibility of inhibiting the
similar gene (hdkk1) in human organisms from the preegg stage and
thereby provide a means of generating cloned organs for
transplantation and thereby extend life at regular intervals. The
method of gene knockout that I understand is applicable in this case,
is the neomycin/ganciclovir method but other methods may also be
investigated. In the UK we are permitted to experiment on embryos
within a 14 day limit. This is when the first signs of the neuraxis is
seen developing in various organisms. This experiment should indicate
success within a similar timescale. Subsequent growth of cloned organ
systems can then be achieved using a (cow) uterus excised for the
purpose and connected to a life-support (ecls) machine. Further
application of this technology can be seen in the growth of ethical
meats and animal products without the need to terminate sentient life
and thereby lead to the sustaining of a bigger population while
utilising vertical farms. In future, when spinal cord regeneration is
perfected in humans as it has been demonstrated in mice, we may then
proceed to transplant entire lower bodies. Ofcourse, limb transplants
become viable immediately. Further, the political and social
implications arising from this advance need to be discussed in
society, for example this technology also provides a means of
producing healthy babies.

I hope you share my interest in preserving and sustaining life with
this time-critical research.

Yours sincerely,

Ayaz.

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i am surprised at not having received a reply but i did hear faint
echoes of wheels starting to grind into motion on tv. there is no time
to lose. this momentus revolution must happen asap to avoid global
disaster. i feel that these changes will usher in a brave new world of
peace and plenty for everyone.