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The Advancing Technology/Singularity Thread

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Is solar going to be the first major technology in a long, long time, that the US and US companies aren't dominating. I can't help but think our reluctance as a nation to embrace solar is going to put our country at a competitive disadvantage going forward.

Rather than figure out how to compete with foreign companies, and using adoption forward, the US is going to add a tariff on solar imports. We are set up to be the last country to get to the point where incremental power is effectively free when we really should be the first.

We are apparently going to completely blow the opportunity to rebuild the power infrastructure with distributed solar in Puerto Rico.
 
Is solar going to be the first major technology in a long, long time, that the US and US companies aren't dominating. I can't help but think our reluctance as a nation to embrace solar is going to put our country at a competitive disadvantage going forward.

Rather than figure out how to compete with foreign companies, and using adoption forward, the US is going to add a tariff on solar imports. We are set up to be the last country to get to the point where incremental power is effectively free when we really should be the first.

We are apparently going to completely blow the opportunity to rebuild the power infrastructure with distributed solar in Puerto Rico.
Need those coal jobs!
 
the fastest growing industry over the next several years is solar installers.
Was being sarcastic. I totally agree we need to adapt or we're going to be left behind.
 
Was being sarcastic. I totally agree we need to adapt or we're going to be left behind.

I realize that, just adding in the futility fo the people who do think that way.
 
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I did actually; I'll update the thread tonight.

Looking forward to hearing just how powerful CRISPR can be. As you know, my wife is a breast cancer survivor. She had the genetically kind that feeds off of estrogen, so she has to take pills that block any estrogen in her body. The side effects of that pill are brutal. It would be fantastic of something like CRISPR could remove that gene and eliminate the need for that pill.
 
Looking forward to hearing just how powerful CRISPR can be. As you know, my wife is a breast cancer survivor. She had the genetically kind that feeds off of estrogen, so she has to take pills that block any estrogen in her body. The side effects of that pill are brutal. It would be fantastic of something like CRISPR could remove that gene and eliminate the need for that pill.

So, let me go through some of the stuff we discussed regarding your questions.

Just so you know, the person I'm talking to is a research scientist, she's a Molecular Biologist and a PhD. She teaches here in L.A. and does research on genetics and genetic diseases and uses CRISPR literally every day. I'm obviously paraphrasing, and, while I generally understand the broadstrokes here; much of what was said is exceptionally technical (this is not my field), so I may be missing some detail (actually, I know I'm missing a great deal of detail).

Alright so:

"Just how large of a scale can it work on?"

So, apparently, CRISPR could, theoretically, work on most of an entire orgasm. The degree to which one can replace DNA/RNA depends on the "vector" being used and the targets of the virus you're using. We'll get to this in the next question.

"If an adult has the gene that makes them susceptible to Alzheimer’s presumably a quite large percentage of brain cells would have to be revised. Is it capable of that kind of coverage."

So.. here's the rub.. she has an extensive amount of research in this exact disease.. the problem with Alzheimer's or any disease of the brain is that, if you could identify a single gene that could be replaced to help the patient, the problem remains as to how do you apply this vector across the entire organ? Neurons do not replicate in the same fashion as other cells, and while you can use "lentiviral vector" gene therapy (iirc) this would get you minimal coverage in an organ like the brain, composed of neurons that are persistent.

We talked about the possibility of using different viral types as a possible work around. I suggested the potential to use viral encephalitis, she thought meningitis might be possible; but she stated that there are viruses that do infect the brain but the relationships and use to carry vectors for CRISPR haven't been sufficiently researched -- she said, oddly enough, that HSV-1 was one such virus and is being research as having a causative link with Alzheimers.

"If I heard right, One talk I saw said it can be used to deactivate HIV that has already infected a cell. For this to be effective you presumably would need complete coverage. Is that possible?"


It's possible.

The problem here is that, HIV is present throughout the body, so, even if you could do something like this, the cell could simply become reinfected. HIV is an exceptionally complex problem and using CRISPR as a cure would probably mean finding a human or primate mutation that allows for natural immunity and using CRISPR to apply the mutation to the patient -- rather than, as you say here, attacking the virus itself.

"If these things are possbible, then it should be possible to dramatically eliminate a vast number of diseases with genetic factors. For example a number of genes have been linked to increased risk of breast cancer. And the post cancer treatment for people with those genes can be brutal."

All of these things are possible (although apparently, treating the brain is seemingly quite difficult).

However, part of the problem with cancers is that, they are complex and there can be dozens to even hundreds of causes. Many people think that there is a cancer gene, but that isn't generally the case; especially with breast cancer. The most basic explanation for many cancers is that cell reproduction fails to end correctly and you end up with a run-away situation of malignant tissues in the body.

Simply put, CRISPR could be used for breast cancer, but, it would entail finding some "vector" that would make a woman less susceptible to tumor formation to begin with. That might be possible with extensive genetic research, but we're not there yet apparently. The other alternative is using CRISPR to attack cancer cells directly; effectively curing the cancer in place. There is research being done on both fronts, but funding and resources are always a determining factor.

...

If you have any other questions, just let me know.
 

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