by Kylon » Tue 07 Feb 2006, 17:43:11
I have a number of simple solutions-
For food, it's called cellulose digesting bacteria, they can be made to work in humans, and the genetic engineering is something that's relatively easy to do, and something I could do(I have another thread all about this).
With the capacity of cellulose digesting bacteria, I can eat anything and everything as a source of food.
For warmth/protection from the environment, it's called lots, and lots of clothing, and when it gets to hot, make it into a back pack and stop wearing it. It may be a drag to carry, but it will protect you from the weather.
For my immune system and medical, I plan on using magnetic regeneration. I know this seems crazy to you, but I think it's valid, and there are studies showing it's validity. Essentially high frequency sinusodal alternating current (electro)magnetic fields, reduce cAMP. Now cAMP reduction is heavily associated with cell dedifferentiation, cell proliferation, and regeneration. Because it keeps cells in a stem cell/non differentiated proliferating state. In some cases it's not(such as in axonal regeneration), but that's due to increased activity of the Rho pathway.
In order to eliminate the possible cancer effects of the magnetic field, I can use the chemopreventive compound silymarin, probably the only plant I will have to growth occasionally, it's also in a weed(milk thistle) so it grows naturally. I might be able to grow a tumor in culture, then inject it into my body, while I am on large amounts of chemo-preventive compounds and develop an immunity(because the body won't recognize cancer right away, it has to learn what's cancerous and what not).
With magnetic regeneration, I could regenerate myself if injured. I could apply it to my lymph nodes to issure increased proliferation of my immune system. This would be necessary in a world where the common cold can kill you, and you have to drink unclean water, and where getting a good bath may only come once a year. Coupled with the cancer immunity, this could effectively prevent alot of the cancer associated with
For power, I could use either a small stirling engine and a generator, or just a human powered generator.
For transportation, a bicycle, or walking.
Anyways...
People won't kill me, because I won't be carrying any food. All my food is on the ground. Wherever there is non-toxic foliage, there's food.
In essence I have a crude(but effective) substitute for food, shelter, medicine, water I would still need a source of, and the capacity to adapt to environmental conditions by simply increasing the growth of my muscle tissue, my immune system, brain cells, liver tissue(for protection against toxins in what I eat and due to pollution).
I could be a vagabond(presupposing I didn't get killed and canabalized), until I could find a community willing to accept me.