What would happen if we could compile code into DNA?

Some time far in the future, biologists develop a compiler targeting DNA. We could now create any kind of lifeform we wanted.

In the process, biologists also disassembled and decompiled human DNA into the language the compiler understood.

Prior to this, we also figured out a way to augment the DNA in every cell of an existing organism — or even replace it entirely, although that wouldn't be very useful.

One of the immediate effects of the compiler, combined with our ability to change the DNA of a living organism, was cancer being cured. They just made DNA verification during mitosis more robust (although this also somewhat stops mutations which, in the long term, means stopping evolution).

How might

• humanity use this to benefit themselves or solve existing problems through the augmentation of the human body and/or the creation of new lifeforms — e.g. as an alternative to robots?
• the augmentations and the creation of new lifeforms backfire on humanity?

posted about 9 years ago

angelsl‭

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