Human Health Enhancement Essay

Human Health Enhancement Technologies

What are Human Health Enhancement Technologies?

What if we could be stronger, smarter, and have a better memory? What if we could alter our genes to cure Alzheimer’s, cancer and other incurable diseases? What if we could pause or even reverse the human aging process? NOT POSSIBLE is the first thing that comes to mind. But all of these are now possible, thanks to phenomenal advances in human health enhancement.

Human health enhancement refers to any attempt to temporarily or permanently overcome the current limitations of the human body through the use of natural or artificial resources. These technologies can be used not simply for treating sickness and disability, but also for improving human features

A Bionic aye Called Argus II, is already available in Europe. Although it can reestablish sight completely, Argus II can recover vision in individuals who are completely blind or see nothing.

Virtual Lens

A new type of contact lens which is combined with what seems to be designer sunglasses containing micro-projectors makes it possible for a user to see the world around them while at the same time view a virtual image less than 1.27 centimeters (0.5 inches) away.

Usually we cannot easily focus on both near and far objects. The near objects tend to become unclear. But with the virtual contact lens a users' vision becomes extraordinarily sharper, seeing details of objects close to the eye. By projecting content on to the eye wear suddenly the viewer sees both the real-world and the virtual one in sharp focus.

Cosmetic surgery: This type of enhancement includes plastic surgery or facelifts. In fact, cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the most well-known type of plastic surgery. ELABORATE WITH EXAMPLES

Genetic

Genetic enhancement is the process of altering an organism's genetic makeup to produce appropriate qualities. Geneticists insert new, favorable genetic information to either support or completely replace the genetic information. Scientists have already used the method to create mice, which experienced speedy muscle growth following the process, and although implementing this technology to humans is a much more complicated task, the possibility becomes closer to reality with every new technology and discovery introduced. Eventually, parents may be able to pick their child's hair color, skin tone, eye color and even their child's personality. They may even be able to choose how smart their child should be.

Cloning

Clones are organisms or species that are exact genetic duplicates. Every single bit of their DNA is identical and same. Clones can even happen naturally i.e. identical twins are among one of the examples of cloning. They can now be made in the lab too using the latest technology. There are two possible ways to make an exact genetic copy of an organism in a lab: Somatic cell nuclear transfer and artificial embryo twinning.

1. Artificial Embryo