Welcome back to this series of explorations of what the future may bring to humankind. In the first part we discussed about couple of potential outcomes like augmented reality and self-reconfiguring bodies and environment that could take place in the next hundred or so years. Let's continue with more visions of the future.

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Planetary civilization

Humankind is currently in the process of becoming what's called a Planetary civilization, or Type I civilization. Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev came up with a scale of civilization evolution based on energy levels it's able to utilize.

First category is the planetary civilization that can absorb all the light from it's mother star and control all planetary forms of energy. For example, it's able to control the weather, earthquakes and volcanoes, harness the power of hurricanes or build cities on the oceans. Even though it's inhabitants may roam around the distant skies in rockets and spacecrafts, their main sources of energy will come from the planet itself.

Type II civilization is Stellar and it can entirely control energy outputs of it's neighbor star. They exhausted their planetary resources and now use the power of the sun to fuel their machines with energy. Third and final type of civilization is Galactic and it can control energy outputs of entire galaxy in which it resides, like utilizing the power of black holes and billions of it's stars.

Right now we are a Type 0 civilization, still relying on fossil fuel, dead plants and oil for energy. Carl Sagan gave a more detailed assessment saying that we are at 0.7 on the Kardashev scale, which means there's approximately 100 years ahead of us before we become a Type I civilization according to theoretical physicist Michio Kaku.

This transition may be the most important and dangerous in human history. Internet is becoming number one communication technology used all over the world, English is spreading as most used second language that most of educated people are familiar with. European union is an attempt at Type I economy. Once we had tribal games, now we have Olympic games and world cups. Globalization and tolerance on one hand, but weapons of mass destruction and extremists on the other hand.

There's still no evidence that any Type 1, 2 or 3 civilization exists out there and we are in a battle with time to create one.

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We'll be able to design our offspring

In only a couple of decades we'll be able to modify genes in embryos to prevent from disease or include desirable traits and genetic characteristics.

Our genes shape who we are, as individuals and as species. So far, thousands of genes have been recognized as a potential to cause some disease. In the past, editing genes have not been easy, but recently, a new technology of genetic engineering has been developed that allows scientists to enhance the DNA of all living organisms, including humans.

CRISPR ( Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats ) is a method similar to one bacteria uses to protect itself from viruses. It creates a nucleus called cas9 that can cut DNA and disable the virus. But recently, researchers realized that it can be used for any DNA sequence and not just the one containing virus. And it can be used on a living cell.

Basically, CRISPR gives researchers amazing level of control when it comes to DNA editing so they can cut undesired parts and replace them with new ones. The technology is already used for correction of genetic imperfections that cause disease in some animal species and even humans. In 2015, Chinese scientists used this method on human embryos to cure Thalassemias, deadly heart disorder that results in an abnormal formation of hemoglobin. In March of 2016, scientists were able to modify HIV virus genes and also prevent infection of other cells.

Even though we still have to wait couple of more years for this method to find practical use in medical treatment, it's research and understanding might lead to curing some of the deadliest diseases we're faced with.

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This further means that in the future, designing 'perfect babies' will not belong only to the realms of science fiction. We will be able to choose their intelligence, height, structure, skin or eye color and even personality. Doctors and parents will be able to select whatever genes they desire and implant them directly in the embryos. Humans will be in a driver's sit of their own evolution.

This also raises many ethical questions and concerns of potential catastrophe. Scientists or anyone with access to bio lab could cause irreversible mutations in the genes of certain animal species. For example, there were suggestions for using this method to prevent mosquitoes from spreading malaria, but without control these changes could spread like wildfire and lead to extermination of other species or entire ecosystems.

This reality is closer to us than you might think. The technology in this field is advancing at an impressive rate and pretty soon you'll be able to choose genetic structure of your children. Get ready to hear a lot about CRISPR in the upcoming years.

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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, Images: 1, 2

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Hope you like this second part! If you do, don't forget to upvote, comment and resteem it. Also make sure to follow @alcibiades to stay updated about future posts.