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By: B. S. Sapoznik  In recent years, humanity has come to always want more. More dopamine, more entertainment, more work, more efficiency, more life. In terms of science, humanity is pushing the limits of knowledge to a new boundary every single day. Of course, the chase for more also reached the topic of our vessel into the world – our bodies. In this chase for more, many athletes and scientists have thought of ways of enhancing human performance. This type of enhancement goes beyond changing your shoes’ insoles or sipping an overpriced energy drink before an important game; it is the work of much research made to genetically alter human capabilities and exploring ways to ‘naturally’ enhance homo sapiens.
For example, CRISPR gene modifications have been recently discovered and have proven to be some of the most groundbreaking finds of the past years. CRISPR (short for “Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats”) is a segment of genetic information (used by bacteria against viruses) that may be edited through the usage of new technologies. The Nobel-Prize-winning tool CRISPR/Cas9 is a CRISPR-associated endonuclease that possesses a guide RNA molecule that targets a specific gene/sequence in the DNA and CRISPR segments. The Cas9 endonuclease will scan a DNA (comparing it to the RNA target) and locate the segment. After location, the endonuclease will act as an enzyme and cut the DNA, leaving a blank space. In this space, the CRISPR genes will be matched, bonding with the remaining DNA. And so, the DNA will react with the CRISPR genes and fill out the remaining spaces. This process can be applied to cells inside or outside the body and is mainly used for ‘cutting out’ harmful genetic diseases. This opens a new door to global medicine and allows for many different possibilities. In cases outside of genetic diseases, this is also a significant change. Technically, gene modification is considered doping, though the recombination/replacement of genes may draw a new boundary as to what the human body can do. Another form of extending your body’s limits has become popularly known as ‘biohacking.’ This is the practice of a lifestyle change (including medical, psychological, physical, etc.) in order to achieve a certain change in your body. This involves taking supplements (affecting the molecular composition of your body), lifestyle changes, or even mindset changes, and implementing different changes to your organism’s chemical reactions. To a certain extent, regulation of your calmness, breath, and meditation is also a form of biohacking and is proven to alter your medical health and mood. Other changes to lifestyle also apply to biohacking. Changing your diet, physical activity, and schedule also affect your body’s condition. Also, some technological advancements have also been useful for enhancing body abilities. Tools are being used nowadays to measure a body’s systematics, including heart rate, hydration, fatigue, respiration, etc. By using these technologies, field professionals may analyze the data produced to create a specific treatment. Some tools are also effectively used for recovery, such as recovery boots, which compress your legs in ways that optimize fluid movement. Additionally, clothing may also alter muscular conditions to enhance an athlete’s performance. In summary, there are various ways to attempt to control our body to produce positive results, redefining its capacities. However, it is important to remember that we shouldn’t mess with our health and our body’s nature unless we deal with problematic situations requiring medical attention. So, even though these tools exist, it doesn’t mean they should certainly be used and should be advised by professional healthcare before usage. Sources: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/07/26/human-enhancement-the-scientific-and-ethical-dimensions-of-striving-for-perfection/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2453248/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biohacking https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/CRISPR#:~:text=Definition,editing%20systems%20found%20in%20bacteria. https://crisprtx.com/gene-editing#:~:text=CRISPR%2FCas9%20edits%20genes%20by,goal%20of%20developing%20transformative%20therapies.
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