Ray Kurzweil has proposed a nanobiotechnology research program to replace the cell nucleus and ribosome machinery with a nanocomputer and nanobot to prevent diseases and aging and another program to create defensive technologies against rogue designer viruses.

Kurzweil presented the ideas in a keynote at the recent "Breakthrough Technologies for the World's Biggest Problems" conference on April 28, sponsored by the Arlington Institute.

The nucleus is basically a computer that stores the DNA genetic code and controls gene expression via RNA, messenger RNA, and ribosomes, which build amino acid sequences that get folded into proteins that control everything else.

Using nanotechnology expected to be available in the late 2020s, a nanocomputer would store and execute the software of the genetic code and the expression of genetic information. It would direct a nanobot to construct the amino acid sequences (eventually, it could also construct the folded proteins). The system would "block uncontrolled replication and DNA transcription errors, and virus replication that can result in cancer, disease, and aging," he said. "It could also upgrade the genetic code to eliminate other diseases, reverse aging, and enhance human abilities."

The concept of modeling the genetic code in software and using nanobots to repair a patient's DNA was suggested by Robert A. Freitas, Jr. in the book Nanomedicine Vol I. Kurzweil's concept would go further, replacing DNA, RNA, mRNA, and ribosomes with software and nanobots.

Stopping designer viruses

Kurzweil also proposed a new research program to spend 1% of GDP, or about $100 billion currently, to create defensive technologies against the intentional abuse of designer biological viruses that could be used in bioterrorism atttacks.

"Relinquishing viral design technology is not the answer because this technology provides the means to overcome many human diseases, including cancer," he said. "But a terrorist with access to a routine college biotechnology laboratory can create a designer virus that could spread easily and be deadly. We are close to having effective anti-viral medications, but this work needs to be given the highest possible priority, and funding to match.
"We also need to streamline regulatory bottlenecks that are delaying these vital defenses. A bioterrorist does not need to put his inventions through the FDA for approval. But the responsible scientists that we are counting on to defend us are delayed at every step."

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