Imagining What Life Will Become: Reading an Ad from the Not-Too-Distant Future
First of a Two-part Article on Imagining What Life Will Become
Image credits: Kiselev Andrey Valerevich via Shutterstock
How will biotechnologies help us flourish in the coming decades? Perhaps by decoupling our biology from our evolutionary legacy. I shared this idea on a recent panel at What Will Life Become?, a 2-day workshop hosted by the Berggruen Institute and the USC Dornsife Center on Science, Technology, and Public Life.
I believe that by moving into this future mindfully, we can set the stage for new types of diversity in the biology of humans and other species, as well as new connections among living things. To showcase this future in terms of lived personal experience, I asked the audience to accept biocapitalism as granted (and invited them to argue with me about that over cocktails). I then read my “ad from the not-too-distant future” that I based on marketing copy from Stitch Fix*, the personal styling company that blends human and machine insights to choose clothing that clients love. Importantly, I didn’t imagine anything fundamentally new in this future; I simply turned up the volume on signals that I’m already seeing today.
As you read this ad for “Bio Fix”, a company that does not exist** (yet?), ask yourself how you feel about upgrading your body—and then ask yourself what would change your mind. Remember to picture your own daily life and that of your children.
Bio Fix: Discovering the body you love just got easier!
Here’s how Bio Fix works:
Tell us about your body and your life. We use your family history, wearables, genomics, metabolics, proteomics, microbiome, and other info to learn about you.
We’ll do the bio-browsing for you. Our biodesigners send you everything you need for patches and upgrades that fit your budget and your goals—plus expert advice and followup.
Shop in your own personalized biostore. Discover new bioassets every day that will help you live your best life.
Ready to optimize your body’s performance? Our biological system patches and delivery methods are curated for your health needs and family history. Whether you need a little more, a little less, or a different flavor of the molecules that your body already produces, Bio Fix crafts a one-of-a-kind strategy for you. Our expert biodesigners make it effortless for you to choose from viral gene therapy, somatic CRISPR, base editing, exosomes, RNA vaccines, or—if you’re ready to splurge—personalized organs from our sustainable and humane production facilities. For optimal results, start with a Yamanaka Reset™ to return your biology to its youthful baseline, then build back better with our patches. You can even use our BioAPI™ system to more strongly link your body to your microbiome and your environment. You’ll always be running the very best version of your body with Bio Fix.
Imagining the future of fashion where human and machine insights are blended to choose clothing that clients will love. Image credits to Montri Nipitvittaya via Shutterstock.
Or maybe it’s time for a full upgrade! Check out our latest offerings in hybrid organs that blend the best in electronics, robotics, and biologics for new-to-humans functions like underwater breathing, solar power, radiation shielding, and echolocation. Bio Fix’s new synthetic chromosomes bring tunable, plug-and-play functionality to your genetic code. With our premium membership, you get priority access to new DNA modules as they roll out of the world’s most innovative labs (including ours!), plus a LegacyTx™ option to pass these synthetic chromosomes on to your children. This way your generations can continue your family’s pioneering genetic journey—empowering them to thrive on a hot and stormy Earth, a cold and dry Mars, or anywhere else they call home.
How do we find these amazing fits to your personal biology? Bio Fix maintains an up-to-date, ever-changing array of biotechnologies and bioaccessories to fit your unique needs and lifestyle. Thanks to our mix of exclusive offerings plus our unparalleled access to the world’s most trusted bioassets, you’ll never find a more diverse and inclusive catalog than Bio Fix’s.
*I chose this company as an example because we all wear clothes. I haven’t actually tried their service!
**Remember, Bio Fix is a completely fictional company! These “offerings” are not ready to be out in the world … yet.
