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Punit Virk

Transforming Pathology: Biotechnology as a positive feedback loop for the evolution

of anatomical pathology

Genetics and Pathology Genomics and Moore’s Law Current Limitations of Genomics A Genomic Singularity Painless, Satiated, Designer Babies-

combating Pathology You and Me—Juggling Humanity

Outline

{Why Genomics?

• Genetically information forms the basis of some of the most intriguing biological phenomena.

• Genomics plays a role in 9/10 leading causes of death, including: Heart Disease, Cancer, Stroke, Diabetes, and Alzheimer's.

Genomics and Moore's Law

• DNA sequencing technology have arguably exceeded Moore’s law.

• Speed of genome sequencing has far better than doubled every two years.

• What now? How does this sequence data connect with anatomical pathology?

What stimulates advances in biotechnology?

Myth: Our genome has been completely sequenced

Pathology and AI “With too little data, you won’t be able to make any conclusions you trust. With loads of data you will find relationships that are not real.”- Douglas Merrill

What could genomics look like in the future?

Ending World Hunger? Is genetically-engineered and lab-grown food the remedy for worldwide malnutrition and hunger?

Designer BabiesWill biotechnology breakthroughs during the technological singularity enable us to manipulate what it means to be human? And our relationship with pathology

Technology and Pathology Would we really be manipulating our own genetics? Are we vulnerablefor entrusting our code life in the hands of strong, self-aware AI?

Genomics and Everyday Life 1. Could individuals start imposing limitations upon

themselves if genetic profiles become available?

2. What if employers and universities eventually gained access to such information, could affect admission or employment?

3. Could discrimination based on genetic information present a drawback for advances in genetic research?

2 Moms + 1 Dad The British government recently legalized 3-parent babies. A child can be born with 3 genetic parents. Is this a step towards ‘designer babies,’ or a innovative technique to eliminate mitochondrial disorders

The Red Queen Hypothesis?Could we end up in an arms race between pathology and genetic engineering?

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2sgObXbIWY Muehlhauser, Luke., Salamon, Anna. 2012. “Intelligence Explosion: Evidence and Import.” In Singularity Hypotheses: A Scientific and

Philosophical Assessment. Mueller, Thomas. Genomics and The Future of Medicine: Gene chip diagnoses and designing ourselves. Retrieved from Lectures Notes

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Pearce, David. (2013, October 15). Transhumanist Philosopher David Pearce on Singularity 1 on1: Giving Up Eating Meat. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wv8Hytp-c8&feature=player_embedded

Pearce, David. (2013, October 17). Abolition of Suffering/Will Humanity’s Successors Be our Descendents? Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4upY7aKEQ4&feature=c4-overview&list=UU3l8ghdgNRdRGa7MeMn9Sdw

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Citations