Man-Made

It is always cited that the success of our species results from our superior ability to adapt to different circumstances. The use of man-made materials to replace failed biological materials is a fantastic example of this. This journey began centuries ago with wooden legs and golden teeth, but where are we now? As we begin encroaching on the realms of Frankenstein and Iron Man, will we know if or when to stop?

Prosthetic limbs have changed lives for those once restricted to wheelchairs. Technology has gone so far as enabling someone with no legs to become the 17^th fastest man in the World (Oscar Pistorius). The carbon-fibre composite legs do not, as is often misreported, act as springs. Instead, their strength and stability allow the athlete to fully engage other muscles, optimising performance.

The remarkable ‘E-Legs’ allow people who haven’t walked in decades to walk with ease and even climb stairs. They currently work using sensors in the crutches, which match the movement of the robotic legs to the person’s motion. Furthermore, there is considerable research being carried out into a system that would monitor electrical impulses directly from the brain. However, whilst progress has been outstanding, there is a huge cost associated with prosthetics and exo-skeleton suits (which will set you back around £100,000) making it unviable as a global solution. Without blood flow or nerve endings within these structures the overall functionality will also be limited.

Is there an alternative? Tissue engineering is another large area of biomaterials research. The key idea behind this is externally producing a scaffold of collagen (the biological building block of molecules), taking human cells from a patient and effectively growing a new (and disease free) piece of tissue that can be implanted without fear of rejection. Whilst it is fairly unlikely that entire legs or spinal columns can be restored to normal function after injury, there is nevertheless great scope for replacing damaged sections. Tissue engineering essentially ‘reboots’ a section of biology within us, and once the process has begun, the body will capably manage growth and continuation of recovery. There are still costs associated with this option, but the long-term prognosis seems superior to external aids.

Do we face the risk of becoming walking Frankensteins? Whilst I do think that all progress in this field should be monitored and assessed on an ethical level, I don’t believe that this progress is too far from what our ancestors did millions of years ago when they stepped onto the plains of Africa. We are adapting, and although this may bring physical changes to our species, it is unlikely to impact human nature.