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In the future, DARPA hopes to offer blood transfusions with genetically engineered red blood cells making soldiers virtually impervious to all types of germ warfare. They have financed a new project that researches how human red blood cells can be engineered to carry natural antitoxins with the ability to neutralize fatal biotoxins.
The cells respond well to the genetic manipulation, specifically because they lack chromosomes and are therefore incapable of replicating to produce cancerous cysts and tumors. Additionally, this mutated blood can circulate in vascular systems for up to four months, providing soldiers in the field with an ample repository of antitoxins that activate immediately when required.
The Metabolic Dominance and Engineered Tissue Program is the true supersoldier initiative, researching methods to increase a soldier’s endurance, muscular strength, and physical invincibility (Seal, 2003). All three of these caveats are dependent in some form on muscle fibres.
The answer lies in the absence of the p21 gene ( “1 Gene Lost”, 2010). In the case of DNA damage, this particular gene exists in mammals as a defense mechanism against accelerated cell cycle progression, which could lead to cancerous masses.
However, in mice that lack this gene, the Wistar Institute has found that their cells function similarly to embryonic stem cells, forming blastemas. This mass of pluripotent stem cells has the potential to remember tissue origin and regenerate the correlating appendage. Furthermore, no increase in cancer has been reported in the test subjects due to an observed increase in apoptosis – programmed cell death. The project’s lead scientist, Dr. Ellen Heber-Katz, explains, “The combined effects of an increase in highly regenerative cells and apoptosis may allow the cells of these organisms to divide rapidly without going out of control and becoming cancerous” (Gayle, 2010). This particular study is DARPA’s leading success story within the Engineered Tissue Program
In common terms, scientists have discovered how to control an individual’s mind in order to manipulate the subject’s demeanor and behavior. Genes that manufacture opsins, light-responsive proteins, are inserted into neurons; when absorbing a photon, these opsins cause their particular neuron to fire, signalling the brain to exhibit a specific type of behavior (Deisseroth, 2010). DARPA intends to use this breakthrough to eliminate a soldier’s empathy for the purpose of intensifying their capacity to “kill without care or remorse, show no fear, fight battle after battle without fatigue and generally behave more like a machine than a man” (Posel, 2013).
Roger Pitman , professor of psychiatry at Harvard University, is conducting experiments with the beta-blocker propranolol, which has indicated the possibility to eradicate disturbing memories (Posel, 2013). If successful, this area of study could alleviate the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However,the Human Assisted Neural Devices Program’s leading bioethicist, Jonathan Moreno of the University of Pennsylvania, has expressed general concerns about DARPA’s applications of these neurological breakthroughs: “The problem is: what else are they blocking when they do this? Do we want a generation of veterans who return without guilt?” (Posel, 2013) Although these scientific pursuits could result in a generation of noble men and women returning home liberated from the effects of PTSD, would they return home without their consciences as well?
https://archive.is/G5jn9