Topic biotechnology
Cloning The First Human
401 views
Ever since February 1997, when genetic scientists first unveiled 'Dolly' the cloned sheep, has genetic engineering pushed towards the desire to clone and genetically modify human beings. Since then, cloned cattle, pigs, goats and mice have been produced amongst other things, fuelling the belief that humans can be next. But what are the problems with this manipulation? Cloning The First Human follows the latest research, which not only shows complications from an ethical position, but much more dangerous ones too...
Who’s Afraid of Designer Babies?
402 views
After many experiments with cloning and genetically manipulation on other species, technology and genetic science is now turning to the frontier of the human. Every parent wants their child to be healthy, but does this extend to picking their genes for them? What about those who are unable to have children naturally for whatever reason, who turn to artificial insemination or genetic modification? Is this designing children? What are the repercussions in a world dominated by genetically modified people? Will we evolve into a new species and transcend our history to one of inclusion and harmony? Or, will we simply end up in a world that is further divided -- by genetic apartheid?
Age of Transitions
2.17K views
Transhumanists claim a beautiful and apparently now-not-so-distant utopian future made possible by artificial intelligence, life extension and cybernetic technologies. But upon examining the convergence of these technologies and the history behind them, Age Of Transitions details how this movement of "transcending human limits" was born out of pseudo-science eugenics, and what the implications are for a world divided by the have's and have-not's.
The Intelligence Revolution
1.80K views
Scientist Michio Kaku explains how artificial intelligence will revolutionise homes, workplaces and lifestyles, and how virtual worlds will become so realistic that they will rival the physical world. Robots with human-level intelligence may finally become a reality, and in the ultimate stage of mastery, we'll even be able to merge our minds with machine intelligence. For the first time, see how a severely depressed patient can be turned into a happy person at the push of a button -- all thanks to the convergence of neuroscience and artificial intelligence...
Genetically Modified Food — Panacea or Poison?
798 views
In the "race to feed the planet", scientists have discovered how to manipulate DNA and produce what they claim are stronger, more disease-resistant crops. However, fears that Genetically Modified Food may not be safe for humans or the environment has sparked intense protest. Are we participating in a dangerous global nutritional experiment? This film asks is the question -- is the production of genetically modified food a panacea for world hunger or a mass poisoning of the worlds food supply?
Bullshit
1.23K views
Bullshit follows environmental activist Vandana Shiva as she travels around the world to in her quest to eliminate the use of genetically modified foods and seeds in her home country of India and other developing countries. Shiva argues that the “ownership of life” through the patenting of natural products, namely grains altered through genetic modification (GMOs), is not in our best interests, and is in fact harmful to agriculture in developing countries...
Food Inc.
4.90K views
What does the corporate-controlled food industry look like? Film-maker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on today's food industry, exposing the underbelly that has been hidden from view of the consumer with the cooperation of government regulatory agencies such as the USDA and FDA. The food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the farmer, the safety of workers and of course, the environment...
Technocalyps
7.24K views
Are we prepared for dealing with the prospect that humanity is not the end of evolution? The latest findings in genetics, robotics, artificial intelligence, bionics and nanotechnology appear in the media every day, but almost no analysis is found of their common aim -- to exceed human “limitations” and capability. Literally to transcend humanity, or transhumanism. This three part series covers the notion of transhumanism and conducts enquiry into the scientific, ethical and metaphysical dimensions of such a technological development...
The Cyborg Experiments
1.35K views
Kevin Warwick is an internationally renowned Professor and researcher in the field of Cybernetics -- the study of Artificial Intelligence, human control functions, robotics and cybernetic organisms. His work presented in this video shows how implant and electrode technology can be used to create biological brains for robots, to enable human enhancement and possible therapeutic effects for neurological illness. In any case, the end goal is human enhancement, or "transhumanism", which inevitably stirs up many social, ethical and philosophical questions...
Selling Sickness
1.34K views
There is an unhealthy relationship between society, medical science and the pharmaceutical industry. Drug manufacturers today fund aggressive marketing campaigns designed to create public awareness of "previously unknown diseases", or those known by "less dramatic names". Shyness thus becomes branded as "Social Anxiety Disorder", worry becomes "Generalised Anxiety", and premenstrual tension as "Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder". Anti-depressant medications used to treat these "diseases", such as Paxil, Zoloft and Prozac have become household names, not to mention a 20 billion dollar a year racket...
The Corporation
3.07K views
What kind of person is the corporation? Since the current day legal status of the corporation is a person, what would happen if it sat down with a psychiatrist to discuss its behaviour and attitude towards society, culture and the environment? Explored through specific examples, this film shows how the modern day business corporation has developed into the dominant institution of our time...
The World According to Monsanto
1.42K views
Monsanto seems to be stopping at nothing: Corn, Wheat, Soy Beans, Canola, Mustard, Okra, Bringe oil, Rice, Cauliflower -- once they have established the norm, all these seeds can be owned as their property, royalties will be collected and enforced by patent law. If Monsanto controls seed, they control food and they know it. It’s strategic. It’s more powerful than bombs, it’s more powerful than guns. This is their way to control the populations of the world...
The Quantum Revolution
642 views
The 'quantum revolution' spouts claims of turning many ideas of science fiction into science fact -- from metamaterials with mind-boggling properties like invisibility through limitless quantum energy and room temperature superconductors to Arthur C Clarke's space elevator. Scientists even forecast that in the latter half of the century everybody will have a personal fabricator that re-arranges molecules to produce everything from almost anything, yet how will we ultimately use our mastery of matter? What are the risks?
Patently A Problem
562 views
The human genome is being privatised. Another corporate takeover. The genetic sequences that make up you and me are being patented and one Australian company, a hot item on the stock market, is aggressively enforcing a suite of patents that affect an extraordinary 95 percent of every living creature's DNA. The company claims most laboratories around the world are infringing its patents -- nature itself included -- and the company is now trying to charge licence fees for this...
Nanotechnology, Nanotopia
800 views
Nanotechnology has the potential to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of applications -- such as in medicine, electronics or energy production for example. On the other hand, nanotechnology raises many of the same issues as with any introduction of new technology, including concerns about toxicity and the impact on the environment. The difference in this case being that nanomaterials are in use in products and industry right now and these concerns are seemingly going unaddressed...
The Biotech Revolution
849 views
The vast majority of scientists working in genetics and biotechnology repeatedly promise "unprecedented health benefits and longevity for all", amongst other things, while justifying their work in the "biotechnology revolution". But isn't this "revolution" simply the prospect of a Frankenstein-style future that is dominated by genetically modified people? Will we evolve into a new species and transcend our history to one of inclusion and harmony? Or, will we simply end up in a world that is further divided -- by genetic apartheid?