This blog post explores the positive possibilities brought by advances in biotechnology, while also delving deeply into the risks uncontrolled mutations could pose to humanity’s future.
On March 14, 2018, the brilliant physicist Stephen Hawking passed away. Though he was a cosmologist, he also made numerous predictions about humanity’s future. Among them, his warnings about the causes that could lead to humanity’s extinction remain a topic of discussion. The key point to note here is his diagnosis that humanity itself could bring about its own extinction, with biotechnology being a prime cause. So, what exactly is biotechnology that he claimed could be a cause of humanity’s extinction?
Biotechnology refers to deliberate human intervention at the biological level. It involves modifying a living organism’s form, capabilities, or desires to suit human objectives. Examples of biotechnology applications are easily found around us, with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) being a prime example. This involves inserting genes into existing crops—such as genes resistant to pests or genes that produce larger fruits—to create crops with higher yields. Genetically modified crops have improved farming efficiency and yielded higher-quality fruits, enabling a more stable food supply for humanity’s exponentially growing population. Furthermore, manipulating the genes of E. coli and fungi to mass-produce insulin, thereby aiding the treatment of diabetes patients, is another prime example of biotechnology’s significant contribution to humanity.
Furthermore, biotechnology is utilized in researching the history of animals and humanity. Research is currently underway to restore animals extinct for about 2 million years using genes from mammoth carcasses discovered in Siberia. There are also attempts to revive Neanderthals, known as one of humanity’s ancestors but now extinct, to study human history and brain structure. Thus, biotechnology has greatly benefited humanity and remains a promising field with vast future potential.
So why did Stephen Hawking warn that biotechnology could lead to humanity’s extinction? The reason lies in ‘mutations’. During biotechnology research, genes can be manipulated unintentionally, posing a risk of causing catastrophic harm to humanity. Viruses, in particular, frequently mutate even in their natural state. For example, a mutated variant of the common cold virus is called influenza, which is generally highly contagious and causes severe symptoms. If reckless research continues without sufficient awareness of the dangers of mutation, there is a possibility that a lethal mutation could emerge someday, threatening humanity.
Furthermore, consider the application of biotechnology to humans. While there is no single established answer regarding humanity’s origin, modern textbooks widely adopt evolutionary theory to explain it. The background that allowed humanity to emerge after the Big Bang in the universe can be simply described as the result of accumulated ‘superior mutations’. At some point during the process of monkeys reproducing offspring, mutations occurred. Inferior mutations were eliminated by natural selection, while superior mutations survived and continued to reproduce. Through the repetition of this process, humans evolved. This evolution occurred over an extremely long period in natural environments, which is also why species classified as human ancestors have not completely disappeared, much like how monkeys and humans coexist today. However, the problem arises if humans directly apply biotechnology to themselves, potentially creating ‘superior mutations’ artificially. This would mean humans would discover a way to become a superior species to current humanity, and those possessing this knowledge would have no reason to reject superior mutations. Ultimately, it cannot be ruled out that at some point, the current human species, ‘Homo sapiens’, could be replaced by a new species.
The movie “Gattaca” (1997) is set in an era where human genetic manipulation is possible. In the film, economically privileged individuals manipulate their genes to have intelligent and physically attractive children, while the poor, lacking money, cannot afford genetic modification. Society increasingly discriminates against those who haven’t had their genes modified, and companies even hesitate to hire them. If biotechnology research expands indiscriminately without clear purpose or ethical awareness, the world depicted in “Gattaca” could very well become reality.
Biotechnology can be likened to a commentary. Properly utilizing a guidebook can greatly aid in developing skills, but thoughtless, indiscriminate use will not only fail to improve abilities but may even cause harm. Similarly, the future of biotechnology also depends on those who research it. Therefore, if an appropriate ethical perspective is maintained during the process of utilizing biotechnology to achieve progress, the direction humanity should take will become clearer, and Homo sapiens can evolve into a more splendid species.
