基本説明
Explores how new organs might be engineered via cloning and reproductive technology to achieve human immortality.
Full Description
Explores how new organs might be engineered via cloning and reproductive technology to achieve human immortality.
Providing the philosophical, practical, and theoretical leverage for abandoning evolution and development in favor of engineering human beings, Becoming Immortal examines the directions biological change might take if civilization were to take charge of its own destiny. With the aid of embryonic manipulation, cloning, and stem-cell therapy, immortality would seem within the reach of future generations. The question is, "Do we presently have the wisdom to undertake creating immortal organisms?" The author examines every facet of this question, from theory to practice, and provides an answer through an in-depth analysis of life and death.
Contents
Preface
Prologue
1. Quo Vadis?
Why Become Immortal?
Has Life Changed?
"Hello, Dolly!" and Salutations to Stem Cells
Why We Are Not Immortal Or What Is Life Anyway?
Achieving Immortality through Biotechnology
2. Why Immortality Cannot Evolve 45
Where Does Longevity Come From, and Why Has Evolution Made Us Mortal Rather than Immortal?
What Is an Evolutionary View of Longevity, And Why Are the Prospects so Bleak for Achieving Immortality through Evolution?
Afterword: Immortality Triumphant!
3. Why Immortality Cannot Develop
Development's "Why, Where, What, When, How, and Why?"
Development According to Embryologists and Developmental Biologists
Conclusions
4. Life's Fundamental Feature: Devolution
Getting Down to Basics: Life Begins
An Introduction to Devolution
The Devolution of Eucarya
The Devolution of Sex
The Devolution of Metazoa
The Devolution of Life Histories
The Devolution of Death
Conclusions
5 Making Immortals: From Blastocyst to Generator
Taking Another Look at Cloning
Taking Another Look at Stem Cells
Making Immortals
Making Generators
Epilogue: Reprise and Prediction
Prospects for Immortalization
Adjustments Required by Immortalization
At What Cost
Endnotes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
