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rynlingI reached the point in my nanotech novel where I'm going to have to start doing research. Let's start with what I already know.
First, about cloning: I've actually read more about this than perhaps I'd like via the medium of scholarship on East Asian bioethics. To summarize, human cloning is possible but not viable. It's easier to clone animals simply because animals tend to have easier pregnancies in general. Meanwhile, every single human pregnancy is a freakish grand guignol of body horror. Even in a place (like India, apparently) where there are relatively large numbers of people willing to serve as surrogates, it's still extremely difficult to bring an implanted embryo to term. Not to be crude, but human babies are prohibitively expensive commodities.
In other words, the only limitations on human cloning are funding and the ethical treatment of surrogates. If you didn't have those limitations, you could absolutely clone people. But it wouldn't be cost effective.
Moving on. The only thing I know about nanotechnology has to do with polymer nanofibers, which are primarily used for medical and military applications. In medicine, nanofibers that mimic muscle tissue or bone structure can be implanted into a patient to promote the healing of injuries that would otherwise require grafting, which I understand is a painful process that often doesn't work. Meanwhile, nanofiber membranes can be incorporated into a polymer textile (such as nylon or polyester) for any number of purposes, but mostly to increase durability and water resistance. The U.S. military has developed a range of nanofibers for kitting out soldiers, but it's possible that this technology is becoming more widespread in the form of professional sportswear.
I say "it's possible" because I'm not sure I can believe this without more verification. From what I understand, making nanofibers requires university-level lab equipment, and it wouldn't be feasible on the scale of consumer products. Also, there are concerns that particulate nanofibers can get into your lungs and fuck you up just as badly as asbestos.
The fun sci-fi aspect of nanofibers is that, potentially at least, you could use them to grow artificial bones, muscles, and skin. Apparently (as of 2019), people are working on figuring out how to grow artificial eyes and optic nerves as well. Another fun thing about polymer compounds based on amino acids (proteins, basically) is that they can self-replicate under certain conditions - and most of these conditions are present to varying degrees within the human body.
So I guess, if you really wanted to, you could use nanofibers to do absolutely wild-ass shit in terms of body modifications... but only if you could figure out how to connect these modifications to the body's central nervous system. Which I guess is where nanomachines would be useful?
First, about cloning: I've actually read more about this than perhaps I'd like via the medium of scholarship on East Asian bioethics. To summarize, human cloning is possible but not viable. It's easier to clone animals simply because animals tend to have easier pregnancies in general. Meanwhile, every single human pregnancy is a freakish grand guignol of body horror. Even in a place (like India, apparently) where there are relatively large numbers of people willing to serve as surrogates, it's still extremely difficult to bring an implanted embryo to term. Not to be crude, but human babies are prohibitively expensive commodities.
In other words, the only limitations on human cloning are funding and the ethical treatment of surrogates. If you didn't have those limitations, you could absolutely clone people. But it wouldn't be cost effective.
Moving on. The only thing I know about nanotechnology has to do with polymer nanofibers, which are primarily used for medical and military applications. In medicine, nanofibers that mimic muscle tissue or bone structure can be implanted into a patient to promote the healing of injuries that would otherwise require grafting, which I understand is a painful process that often doesn't work. Meanwhile, nanofiber membranes can be incorporated into a polymer textile (such as nylon or polyester) for any number of purposes, but mostly to increase durability and water resistance. The U.S. military has developed a range of nanofibers for kitting out soldiers, but it's possible that this technology is becoming more widespread in the form of professional sportswear.
I say "it's possible" because I'm not sure I can believe this without more verification. From what I understand, making nanofibers requires university-level lab equipment, and it wouldn't be feasible on the scale of consumer products. Also, there are concerns that particulate nanofibers can get into your lungs and fuck you up just as badly as asbestos.
The fun sci-fi aspect of nanofibers is that, potentially at least, you could use them to grow artificial bones, muscles, and skin. Apparently (as of 2019), people are working on figuring out how to grow artificial eyes and optic nerves as well. Another fun thing about polymer compounds based on amino acids (proteins, basically) is that they can self-replicate under certain conditions - and most of these conditions are present to varying degrees within the human body.
So I guess, if you really wanted to, you could use nanofibers to do absolutely wild-ass shit in terms of body modifications... but only if you could figure out how to connect these modifications to the body's central nervous system. Which I guess is where nanomachines would be useful?
