Are You A Biohacker?
Most of us have seen at least one iconic cyborg movie, whether Robocop or Arnold Schwarzenegger as Terminator. Today these Hollywood characters are joining everyday life thanks to biohacking.
Whether or not you realize it, you may already be practicing biohacking in one form or another. If you meditate in the morning, or you’re on your fourth cup of coffee of the day, or on an intermittent fasting diet, you’re using biohacks to enhance your bodily functions.
Biohacking is not new. It’s something humans have been practicing since we evolved from apes. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, biohacking is, “biological experimentation (as by gene editing or the use of drugs/implants) done to improve the qualities/capabilities of living organisms by individuals and/or groups.”
Biohacking abilities have given birth to the “Transhumanist Movement” which seeks the continuation and acceleration of the evolution of intelligent life beyond its current human form and limitations through science and technology.
The analogy used to best describe biohacking is that if computer hackers are the ones who break into software to alter it for a different purpose, biohackers are the ones who modify the functions of the body by integrating electronic components.
Three of the most practiced forms of biohacking involving human alterations are nutrigenomics, DIY Biology, and Grinder. Each focus of different aspects of biohacking and range from the severity of experimentation.
Nutrigenomics focuses on how food interacts with an individual’s genes and how different nutrients affect one’s ability to feel, think and behave.
DIY Biology is less about direct experimentation on oneself but sharing knowledge with others. This type of biohacking is spearheaded by academic and medical professionals who share tips and techniques with non-experts to help them conduct structured experiments on themselves outside of a controlled environment. For example, instead of going to the hospital to get your wound stitched up, you would do it in your living room by yourself without any medical expertise.
Lastly, Grinder which is one of the most dedicated and extreme group of biohacking, is a subculture that sees every part of the body as hackable. This group’s goal is to become cyborgs by combining gadgets, chemical injects, and implants to achieve the ultimate body hack. In England, Lepht Anonym, a biohacker with over 50 implant chips in her body, conducts all the medical procedures in the comfort of her own home alone or with the help of friends. Some example of devices she has implanted are chips in her finger tips that allow her to feel the distance between her hands and an object.
Some find the movement exciting, but others find it scary. Both are valid emotional responses, but the question is why would anyone want to voluntarily subject themselves to these kinds of dangerous experiments?
To take the massive idea of biohacking and put it into digestible thoughts, biohacking boils down to the desire to feel better and elevated. A pioneer in the biohacker community, Dave Asprey, began experimenting with biohacking because before the age of 30 was diagnosed with high risk of stroke and heart with his body weight of 300 pounds. To take control of his health and life, he began to practice biohacking, and has now be able to get his health back on track while also testing new devices and practices.
Josiah Zayner, like Asprey, is also an influential member in the Grinder community. Zayner experimented by injecting himself with CRISPR DNA in an attempt to cure several of his health issues, specifically gastrointestinal and muscle development. To understand why he did this, one must know what exactly CRISPR DNA is, which is clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. This enzyme acts like a pair of molecular scissors to cut and alter DNA strands. By injecting himself with this specific DNA strand, he would be able to manipulate his genetic makeup and possibly find a cure.
Aside from attempting to cure himself, Zayner also does these kinds of experiments to push back against current medical trial practices. Biohacking gives people control of new medical technology that the FDA/other government entities may not or ever approve. Not only that, but with FDA approval comes extended waiting time frames with ten years being the average for a new drug to undergo trial testing and proposal approval.
However, Grinder and non-government/medically approved biohacking practices are not the only ones. Within not just the medical field but the sports and wellness industry, common practices are cryotherapy, infrared saunas, and virtual floater tanks.
Elon Musk is also a professional pioneer in biohacking with the creation of his company Neuralink, which is developing implantable brain-machine interfaces that can record and stimulate the brain. The New York based company named Synchron, announced July of 2021 that their chip interfaces will be going to FDA trial where they will test the devices on human brains. This kind of technology can be life-changing for those who suffer from physical disabilities such as para, tri, and quadriplegics.
Other examples of medically approved biohacks are prescribed medications such as anti-depressants, Adderall, insulin, blood thinners, etc. Also, biohacking is practiced not just in the human body but also in industries such as agriculture and farming. Without biohacking there would be no GMOs (genetically modified organisms) which have helped to increase food supply throughout the world and has been impactful to places where hunger is prevalent.
Biohacking is considered controversial because of the way in which individuals who participate in Grinder culture are illustrated since their methods are unconventional. However, without people who are willing to take the chance with no fear of the outcome, technological innovation would not be possible.
It is because of biohacking that technological innovation whether it be for food, disease, or solving earth’s problems, can lead to life-saving technologies impacting millions. The future is uncertain, yet, human need to grow and engage with curiosity means that biohacking will continue to develop. Whether it becomes a wider accepted social practice, and influences change such as altering human life span, time will tell.
Individuals will continue to experiment with future possibilities and who knows, maybe one day we will all become cyborgs.
