X-Message-Number: 18975
From: "George Smith" <>
Subject: Re; Free of all disease.
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 10:25:32 -0700

Thomas, I think I am missing something here.

In your Message #18967 "To Bob Ettinger on his comments about 'immortality'
"

You wrote in part:

The very first point to be remembered is that the diseases we get depend not
only on the structure
and behavior of our bodies, but also on OUTSIDE effects which change
that structure and behavior. When we get a cold it does not happen
solely because of the structure of our body: a virus, specially
adapted to deal with our PRESENT defenses, enters our body and happily
multiplies. While it does so our nose runs, we don't feel good, etc
etc.

"To become free of ALL diseases we must not only understand the entire
Universe but be able to use that understanding. I find that a very
unlikely event. Sure, we can learn more and more, and thus deal with
any fixed disease in a relatively short time (say a few hundred years
is short?). But diseases do not remain fixed. I do believe that we'll
have such problems less and less and we work on them, but that is
not the same as total freedom from all diseases."

There are some suppositions I am making.

(1) DNA codes the healthy functioning of the body, essentially.
(2) Nanobots will have the DNA "blueprint" for healthy bodily functioning.
(3) Nanobots will correct deviations from the "blueprint" as they move
through the body.

If we use a practical definition of "disease" to mean NOT a submicroscopic
beginning of a problem but instead the capacity to consciously note in one's
body some symptoms or meaningful disfunctions, then I have a darn hard time
imagining HOW all diseases would not be effectively ended from the
perspective of the patient.

If I never feel sick again and retain full function, I call that "free of
disease".

Let us suppose you have an invasion of viruses and microbes which are
attacking various cells in your body.  If you have an active nanobot
"intelligent" immune system in operation repairing these attacks, the only
other step in this scenerio which I can imagine is noting even ONE instance
of any culprit in action, identifying the features of the virus or microbe
and then also attacking these attackers.

In other words I have always imagined there were TWO aspects to a nanobot
"intelligent" immune system:

(1) DNA "blueprint" repair of cells and systems for optimal functioning.
(2) Identification of new attacking viruses and microbes followed by "search
and destroy" ongoing missions.

IF this comes about, HOW could disease "survive" from a practical and not
just technical standpoint?

And, of course, what I am discussing ASSUMES that this technology can and
will be build (like everything else to date in man's technical imagination).

Maybe there is something I am missing here.

Confused,

George Smith
CI member and Immortalist

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