singularity gets just slightly closer
March 29, 2006 3:52 AM Subscribe
Italian & German researchers have created a "neuro-chip" for linking computers with mammalian neurons (A NewScientist, LiveScience, MSN). They added neuron gluing proteins to the chip to attract the sodium pores, and genetically modified the neurons to add more sodium pores.
In the short term, the work is expected to aid the pharmaceutical industry in testing the effects of drugs on neurons, assist basic research into the workings of the brain, and perhaps help treat neurological disorders. In the long term, numerous sci-fi technologies are slightly closers, such as computers with living components, useful brain implants, and Beowulf clusters of humans.
In the short term, the work is expected to aid the pharmaceutical industry in testing the effects of drugs on neurons, assist basic research into the workings of the brain, and perhaps help treat neurological disorders. In the long term, numerous sci-fi technologies are slightly closers, such as computers with living components, useful brain implants, and Beowulf clusters of humans.
Having just watched the brilliant documentary, The Corporation and knowing a little about J. Craig Venter, the former head of the Human Genome Project and synthetic genomics, I feel some deep dismay.
posted by nickyskye at 4:18 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by nickyskye at 4:18 AM on March 29, 2006
So, how long until I can download my conciousness to a computer and live forever?
posted by twistedonion at 4:40 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by twistedonion at 4:40 AM on March 29, 2006
There are Italian researchers?
posted by allen.spaulding at 7:17 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by allen.spaulding at 7:17 AM on March 29, 2006
It's a good thing that our robot overlords will be built by Italian and German researchers. This way it ensures that they will have to keep at least a few of us around for constant maintenance on their over engineered mechanics.
posted by Pollomacho at 7:25 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by Pollomacho at 7:25 AM on March 29, 2006
nickyskye, care to elaborate?
posted by gene_machine at 8:22 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by gene_machine at 8:22 AM on March 29, 2006
Well, this sounds so much better than duct taping your laptop to your forehead. Which, let's face it, is what I've been doing.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:54 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:54 AM on March 29, 2006
We are Trapper Keeper.
posted by FormlessOne at 11:53 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by FormlessOne at 11:53 AM on March 29, 2006
:sigh:
The thing with the singularity is that if you can see it getting closer, it isn't the singularity. You'll only know it happened when you can see it in the rear-view mirror.
posted by C.Batt at 2:20 PM on March 29, 2006
The thing with the singularity is that if you can see it getting closer, it isn't the singularity. You'll only know it happened when you can see it in the rear-view mirror.
posted by C.Batt at 2:20 PM on March 29, 2006
well, i can give you a criterion - if they can shut off the gene that makes me like lays' bbq potato chips (non-ruffle), i will consider the singularity to have arrived. i'd prefer not to have to suffer death, cancer, or fox news, either, but the lays' gene (P53?) is really what'll let us know. i mean... new tech saves lives first, then it gets degraded to providing crutches to lazy people with money, right?
posted by RTQP at 7:00 PM on March 29, 2006
posted by RTQP at 7:00 PM on March 29, 2006
Greg Verdine was doing this - neuron-on-a-chip - in 1988. This is just an incremental change in the technology.
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:34 AM on March 30, 2006
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:34 AM on March 30, 2006
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posted by pax digita at 4:12 AM on March 29, 2006