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Rich May Evolve Into Own Species

Wealthy winning huge edge with longer life, access to biotechnology

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 26, 2009 4:41 AM CDT

(Newser) – The super wealthy will have such access to high levels of health care, biotechnology and robotics that they could develop into their own species of being, argues a Silicon Valley  futurist. The rich will be able to grow their own organs and manipulate genetics for superior abilities and freedom from disability and disease, according to Paul Saffo, who teaches at Stanford University. “The simple fact is that first we invent our technologies and then we turn around and use those technologies to reinvent ourselves,” Saffo tells the Times of London.

"I sometimes wonder if the very rich can live, on average, 20 years longer than the poor. That's 20 more years of earning and saving," he adds. "Think about wealth and power and the advantages that you pass on to your children."

The rich can build a super-body stairway to the clouds with access to better health care, robotics and biotechnology, says American futurist Paul Scoffo.
The rich can build a super-body stairway to the clouds with access to better health care, robotics and biotechnology, says American futurist Paul Scoffo.   (©albertopveiga)
Only artificially evolved need apply?
Only artificially evolved need apply?   (©%u0412%u0430%u0441%u044F %u0410%u0440%u0442%u0451%u043C%u043E%u0432)
So we can grow our own organs?
So we can grow our own organs?   (©Casey Serin)
Money, money, money.
Money, money, money.   (©Jeff Belmonte)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 29 comments
thejoint00
Oct 27, 2009 12:34 PM CDT
I'm not sure if this article is trying to say that it's the rich people's fault that poor people die younger or that people with money should have to die faster. either way, it's quite a stretch. I think this article is designed to create a rift between the those who have and those who don't rather than encouraging people to share regardless of their monetary stature.
riffran
Oct 27, 2009 8:59 AM CDT
a bit bizzzzzzzzare but funny thumbs up
Doctor-Zaius
Oct 26, 2009 12:48 PM CDT
I read that book. We all end up eating the Eloi.

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