2042: The Age of Biomedicine

Time magazine has called the last decade the “Age of Biomedicine”. In the last ten years, we have seen enormous strides in medical technology and health. With the increase in genetics and stem cell research, there is finally a market for transplant organs. Genes within pigs have been altered so that they can grow human organs that can be successfully transplanted into patients. Although this sort of technology could have been available ten years ago, it took years of political and ethical babbling to allow large projects for consumers. Animal rights activists declared the projects unethical and torture for the animals. Many claimed that harvesting them for organs was no different from harvesting them for meat. Also, many religious groups believed that creating these “humanpig monsters” was against God’s plans and beyond our authority. Then, there were the loved ones of those dying from liver, heart, and lung failure. Knowing that some were choosing the life of a pig over their mom, brother, or grandfather was enraging. In the end, it was the race we have with China for the best medical technology that ultimately allowed the mass production of Organ Pigs.

The first company to begin producing these pigs has already made millions of dollars. Most of their money has come from people buying their future pig just in case they may need an organ one day. The top selling organs have been hearts, livers, and kidneys. Of course, this new technology comes at a steep price. Some non-profit organizations have sprung up to raise money to buy Organ Pigs for people who are in need but cannot afford them. It’s a classic tale of the haves and have-nots. As have-nots die on operating tables from lack of an organ donor, the haves are cultivating organs for their unknown future.

One upside for the have-nots is the discovery of a preventative measure against HIV/AIDS. Although the population of southern Africa has decreased by 50% over the last thirty years, we can finally begin to distribute vaccines to young children in Africa. It has taken three years to get the pharmaceutical companies to lower prices and begin to mass produce the vaccine. In this time, I’m sure millions of people died from AIDS related diseases and even more young people contracted the virus. Although there is great joy and triumph felt in the medical field around the world, some speculate what will happen to many of the third world countries that have been hit hardest by the virus. As populations and life expectancies begin to rise again, we can only wonder how the poorest countries will be able to find resources for all of the people. Many believe that as we save millions in Africa from HIV/AIDS millions will still die from starvation. The massive followers of Thomas Berry are calling for communal action to save all types of our human race not just the money makers. We’ll soon see the fate of these Others that we like to believe are so removed from us.

Hopefully, Swimme and Tucker's optimistic outlook on the future of the human race, our world, and the universe will ring true...

It is in the nature of the universe to move forward between great tensions, between dynamic opposing forces. If the creative energies in teh heart of the universe succeeded so brilliantly in the past, we have reason to hope that such creativity will inspire us and guide us into the future.