Change human DNA or computers will take over the world...

Stephen Hawking, the acclaimed scientist and writer, reignited the debate over genetic engineering yesterday by recommending that humans change their DNA through genetic modification to keep ahead of advances in computer technology and stop intelligent machines from 'taking over the world'.

He made the remarks in an interview with the German magazine Focus. Because technology is advancing so quickly, Hawking said, 'computers double their performance every month'. Humans, in contrast, are developing much more slowly, and so must change their DNA make-up or be left behind. 'The danger is real,' he said, 'that this [computer] intelligence will develop and take over the world.'

Hawking, author of the best-selling A Brief History Of Time and a professor of mathematics at Cambridge University, recommended 'well-aimed manipulation' of human genes. Through this humans could 'raise the complexity of... the DNA [they are born with], thereby improving people'. He conceded the road to genetic modification would be a long one but said: 'We should follow this road if we want biological systems to remain superior to electronic ones.'

He also advocated cyber-technology - direct links between human brains and computers. 'We must develop as quickly as possible technologies that make possible a direct connection between brain and computer, so that artificial brains contribute to human intelligence rather than opposing it.'

While scientists are excited by the huge possibilities of genetic engineering and human interaction with machines, ethicists urge caution as the experiments could go wrong.

Sue Mayer, director of policy research group Genewatch, rounded on Hawking's remarks. 'He is trying to take the debate about genetic engineering in the wrong direction,' she said. 'It is naive to think that genetic engineering will help us stay ahead of computers.

Acknowledgements: The Observer

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We support the Action Against Hunger campaign

We support the Action Against Hunger campaign here at Huttriver8's World.

The world's hungry has exceeded one billion for the first time in history, according to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation. This represents a figure of one in six people going to bed desperately hungry every night. To say that is a lot of hungry people, would be the understatement of the century. Malnutrition kills 5 million children every year. Is that acceptable? Not in my book friends! That is why we support the Action Against Hunger campaign.

The combination of the global economic downturn and high food prices has meant there have been dramatic increases in the number of people worldwide who suffer from acute and chronic malnutrition - this has had a particularly devastating effect on the world's poor - and their chikdren! Declining wages and reduced opportunities has made the purchase of even basic food even moor difficult, especially in the developing countries where the cost remains desperately high, a United Nations study revealed at the end of 2008. The average price was an incredible 24% more than two years previously.

These figures underscore the urgency of the global hunger crisis. Action Against Hunger is working every day to save the lives of malnourished children and provide families with access to safe drinking water and sustainable solutions to hunger.

Some simple facts to consider:

1/ There is enough food in the world to feed 12 billion people, twice the present world population. The problems lie with the distribution of the available food, not the amount itself.

2/ If the vast amounts of money spent by both the developed and developing world countries were transfered to feeding those who lack sufficient food and water, there would not be a hunger crisis and starving millions around the world in the first place.



Action Against Hunger