Exam 2 Glossary Terms

Flashcards based on key vocabulary and terms from the lecture notes.

Asymmetry

A feature of the 'Coming Wave' of technology characterized by a shift in power dynamics, where small groups or individuals can wield disproportionate influence.

Asilomar Precedent

A historical reference to the 1975 conference on recombinant DNA, viewed as a model for handling CRISPR ethics.

Autonomy

The increasing ability of systems to operate and evolve without direct human intervention.

Biohacking

The practice of democratized gene editing by individuals experimenting with biological systems using accessible tools.

Cas9

The enzymatic 'scissors' of the CRISPR system that cleaves both strands of DNA.

CRISPR

A technology adapted from a natural bacterial immune system that allows for precise editing of DNA.

Gene Drive

A genetic engineering technique that forces a specific trait to be inherited by nearly all offspring.

General Purpose Technologies

Transformative innovations that alter how societies operate and enable advances in human capabilities.

Germline Editing

Genetic modifications made to reproductive cells or embryos that are heritable and passed down to future generations.

Homology-Directed Repair (HDR)

A precise DNA repair mechanism exploited in gene editing by providing a 'donor' DNA template.

Off-Target Effects

Unintended genetic cuts made by Cas9 at similar DNA sequences that can cause harmful mutations.

Therapy vs. Enhancement Distinction

The difference between medical interventions that treat diseases and those that augment traits beyond normal functioning.

Mosaicism

A condition where an organism has genetically different sets of cells due to errors in CRISPR editing.

Mind Uploading / Whole Brain Emulation (WBE)

The hypothetical technology of recreating a brain's neural structure in a computational substrate.

Transhumanism (H+)

An intellectual movement advocating for the improvement and transcendence of the human condition through science and technology.

Transcendence

The act of going beyond present limits or capacities, often associated with external goods achieved through technology or divine grace.