X-Message-Number: 4282
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: nanotechnology and its present state
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 1995 11:00:31 -0700 (PDT)

Basically I have no cavil with Brian Wowk's discussion, but I do feel that 
some other points need making about our repair technology (not the one we
have now, but the one we hope to have in the future).

First, whatever you mean by nanotechnology, there is no need for us to have
COMPLETE control over matter on a small scale in order to do repair. We are
likely to get ENOUGH control long before then.

Second, there IS a lot going on in nanotechnology, if you take it in the
broad sense. RIGHT NOW we are using and designing viruses to do all kinds of
tasks in living people. Our understanding of how to insert genes into cells
has been steadily increasing. If you read about experimental work, you will
notice that they are doing things which are far past what is done with human
beings now (mainly because of legal constraints). The implication of all this
work is that we can and will someday go past viruses to design and make even
more elaborate biochemical systems.

Furthermore, in an area called supramolecular chemistry, there is a lot of work
going on RIGHT NOW to design chemicals which can be used to modify and carry
out chemical reactions en masse in more and more complicated ways. This work
even leads into such things as electronics, including such ideas as using 
DNA as a basis for computer memories.

Finally, there is another field called materials design which again works with
materials. In this case, for instance, one thing which the designers of
materials try to do is to make them porous so they can hold both catalysts and
reactants for chemical reactions in a more efficient way than is done now.
Such materials might also serve as specialized filters, too. Some of these
specialized materials have also been designed to serve as batteries. Many other
uses exist.

ALL OF THIS WORK involves manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale.
It is taking place right now --- just read a few issues of SCIENCE or NATURE
and you will notice papers discussing new advances.

Just what devices and methods we ultimately use for revival isn't so important
as the fact that already a good deal has been done to learn how to manipulate
matter on a small scale. And yes, that's exactly what repair will probably 
take. But it does not require us to make devices just like those Drexler
suggests: as we advance in our control, we will probably find more and more

ways to do this job. And anyone who doubts that living things can be 
manipulatedas we manipulate clay should be referred to all the work on genetics,
genetic
modifications, and how to do them going on right now.

			Long long life,

				Thomas Donaldson


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