The bleak future that the great scientist feared
The "dark" prediction made by the late physicist and author, Stephen Hawking, shortly before his death, in a report published yesterday by the Sunday Times, has caused a heated debate.
This work is the "forerunner" of the latest book written by the genius scientist entitled "Short Answers to Big Questions", which will be published tomorrow, Tuesday. In it, Hawking outlines a bleak future for "genetically unmodified" humanity, as he says the wealthy elite will use the science of genetics to "correct" and "upgrade" their children's DNA.
The result, according to the author of the "Chronicle of Time" who passed away last March, will be the creation of a "race of superhumans" that will inevitably overshadow and ultimately destroy the rest of humanity.
"I'm sure that over the course of the century, people will find ways to change not only intelligence but also instincts like aggression. Laws against the genetic modification of human beings will most likely be passed. "But some people will not be able to resist the temptation to improve human characteristics, such as memory, disease resistance and longevity," Hawking said in a statement.
According to the scientist, the important discoveries that will soon be made in genetics will tempt, especially the strong and rich people, to provide their children with a mental and genetic "lead". This will of course have implications for "unimproved people".
"Once the superhumans appear, there will be significant problems for the unmodified humans, who will not be able to compete with them. Logically, at some point they will disappear or their importance will be degraded. "They will be replaced by beings who will plan and constantly improve themselves, at an ever-increasing rate," writes the physicist.
This theory, which is extensively developed in tomorrow's book, refers to techniques such as the Crispr-Cas9 system, which was developed six years ago and allows scientists to intervene in DNA and modify harmful genes or add new ones. It is worth noting that Great Ormond Street Hospital in London already uses genetic modification to treat children with leukemia.
However, many scientists are skeptical of Holling's "prophecy", explaining that few parents would risk using similar techniques on their healthy children, as there is always the possibility of side effects.