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NEWS > SCIENCE > SKIN CANCER TREATMENT MAY LEAD TO SUPER SKIN
SKIN CANCER TREATMENT MAY LEAD TO SUPER SKIN
November 13 2011
Oxford, U.K. – Mutation has always been a major part of life on our planet. Most of that mutation is not seen as such, small alterations in DNA usually resulting in an evolutionary advantage. Unlike what is seen in movies and comic books, mutations in specific individuals do not result in superpowers but usually in death or sever trauma. Mutation is simple a part of the mechanism of evolution.
Science, though, has changed that. No longer are mutations a part of a long, complicated and obscure process. With the advent of genetic engineering, alterations similar to those fantasy creations are indeed possible and may one day actually become common, and already that day may be upon us.
Researchers in England have developed a new technique to combat skin cancer but altering the structure of skin to fight off cancer. While still in the testing stages, the early promise may eventually free human beings of one of the deadliest of ailments forever. Long term, some feel that the new technique may go even further and possibly provide significant new advantages the likes of which have only been imagined before.
”The patient would in effect be treated with their own immune cells to prime an attack on their tumour. The next challenge is to confirm that these laboratory-generated cells will be suitable for immunotherapy-based cancer-treatments used in the clinic,” said Dr Caetano Reis e Sousa who worked on the new technique.
More specific alterations, such as increased skin density to create armoured plating or a technique to cloak a person through their own skin are not currently under development but could be in the offing in the future.
“We really are getting into the brave new world that we could only imagine even a few years ago and it really is exciting. The types of developments coming over the next little while will really revolutionize the way we think about the human body and what it is capable of doing,” said Scrape TV Science analyst Dr. Howard Poe. “Obviously the first stage of that is in bettering ones health, but that is only where things begin. Eventually we are going to have to have a need, or at least a desire, to do more complicated things with the human body and manipulate it in potentially very advantageous ways.”
Other potential advantages of the new skin technology could result in waterproofing, colour manipulation, and sharp pointy things shooting out of it, though again none of that is currently in development.
”We are at the stage when things are really going to start changing very rapidly and that is a brave new world for human beings. Hopefully though this technology doesn’t get into the wrong hands because could be very dangerous. The last thing we want is bad guys gaining this type of advantage,” continued Poe. ”That could start a potentially destructive arms race with each side trying to one up the other in terms of skin technology and eventually that will result in real harm to any kind of progress in the field, never mind society at large. Maybe it’s enough to just cure cancer, maybe. ”
It probably won’t be enough.
Anna Phillips, Science Correspondent
NEWS > SCIENCE > SKIN CANCER TREATMENT MAY LEAD TO SUPER SKIN
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