Friday, July 25, 2014

Issue 387 Solution to super-bugs July 25, 2014

We talked already about bacteria immune to antibiotics, but there is a possible solution.  This solution is microscopic robots called nano-machines.

How they work:  Nano-machines are microscopic robots built in factories or born from various biological methods (as in the case of DNA robots).  These robots can be programmed to hunt down and kill the bacteria.  All it needs is the right programming.  Basically, you build it, give it a task, and then inject it so it carries out that task.

Benefits:  Super-bugs as far as we know cannot fight them.  Robots are not something bacteria can get immune too (we think).  So the robots can doggedly carry out their task to rid the body of all enemy bacteria.

To make it work:  The only issue is to program the machines to go after bacteria that causes the human body harm, not the beneficial bacteria.  Also, if one of the good bacteria overwhelms the body and becomes detrimental, what instructions are we to give to these robots.  So we will have to figure this out and categorize each bacteria into categories and have a way to monitor their populations in the body.

Conclusion:  Nano-machines are a step in the right direction, but in no way mean that we cannot be vigilant.  Truth is, we have never actually pitted a machine against bacteria (to my knowledge), so more research needs to be done.  Also, we still do not know the potential side effects of these microscopic machines will have on our bodies.  We have much to learn, but little time to do it.

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