Ten Biotechnology Breakthroughs Soon to be Available

Popular Mechanics has assembled one of those captivating lists of new technologies that will improve our lives, this time on healthcare technologies (via Instapundit).� Just a few years ago, these would have appeared to be works of science fiction.� Go to the article to read about the ten technologies shown below.�

Most of these will be available to average consumers within the next 7-10 years, and will extend lifespans while dramatically lowering healthcare costs (mostly through enhanced capabilities of early detection and prevention, as well as shorter recovery times for patients).� This is consistent with my expectation that bionanotechnology is quietly moving along established trendlines despite escaping the notice of most people.� These technologies will also move us closer to Actuarial Escape Velocity, where the rate of lifespan increases exceed that of real time.�

Another angle that these technologies effect is the globalization of healthcare.� We have previously noted the success of 'medical tourism' in US and European patients seeking massive discounts on expensive procedures.� These technologies, given their potential to lower costs and recovery times, are even more suitable for medical offshoring than their predecessors, and thus could further enhance the competitive position of the countries that are quicker to adopt them.� If the US is at the forefront of using the 'bloodstream bot' to unclog arteries, the US thus once again becomes more attractive than getting a traditional procedure done in India or Thailand.� But if the lower cost destinations also adopt these technologies faster than the heavily regulated US, then even more revenue migrates overseas and the US healthcare sector would suffer further deserved blows, and be under even greater pressure to conform to market forces.� As technology once again acts as the great leveler, another spark of hope for reforming the dysfunctional US healthcare sector has emerged.�

These technologies are near enough to availability that you may even consider showing this article to your doctor, or writing a letter to your HMO.� Plant the seed into their minds...

Related :

Actuarial Escape Velocity

How Far Can 'Medical Tourism' Go?

Milli, Micro, Nano, Pico

Comments

[Gang of One]

Good morning, GK. While I have yet to digest this post, I went back to your post from last year regarding your wish to see oil reach USD 120.00 per barrel. Well, we have reached that line, and I am disappointed that you have not updated the post. Would very much like to hear more from you about it.

[GK]

Gang of One,

Yes, it has shot past $120, which is very good for all the reasons mentioned. But remember that it has to sustain above $120 to get these benefits, rather than just be that high for a brief period. If it crashes back down to $100 or so, we don't accomplish much.

The 200-day moving average of oil is still only about $100.

[Gang of One]

Thank you for your response, GK. I will watch and wait. I look forward, as always, to your insights. I have been listening to Rush Limbaugh wax on this, and, if I understand him, he posits that the price will fall because the market will not bear it, and because other adjustments such as the spending patterns and consumption of gasoline will bring it down.
Here is a link to his transcript. http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_050808/content/01125113.guest.html

[GK]

Indeed. I want it to solidly be above $120, before I comment. If it drops back after just 2 weeks, then no real changes were triggered.

The 200-day moving average is what ultimately matters.

[Jason Nichols]

I think rather than alerting my doctor the best way to ensure the US stays at the forefront of health care is to fight for broader freedoms and reduced gov't involvement in healthcare.
Issues of technology and health care are too large for individual humans or organized groups (i.e. gov’t groups) to manage effectively. There’s simply too much information, changing too quickly.

The only way the entire country can tackle the problem as one system is through the free market, which makes millions of locally accurate decisions and transmits millions of signals (via pricing and availability) every day. I think rather than writing your HMO, you should write your congressperson to oppose gov’t control of medicine, to reduce regulation and to reduce taxation.

[GK]

Usnjay,

Congress is hopeless. The only hope to get market forces into healthcare is if international competition (medical tourism, etc.) becomes big enough to prick the bubble.

[Jason Nichols]

I doubt if any one thing is 'the only hope', though I certainly agree that international competition is a positive force for freedom. Congress is only as hopeless as the larger American demographic which it represents (though sometimes only loosely)), and when compared to mid-century the American demographic has shifted more towards individual freedom. I think the overall trend is still to the right, which if true means Congress and health care is more likely to support free market reforms.

[law of attraction friends]

I don’t usually leave comments on posts that I read, but I wanted to tell you that you have a very nice writing style. It is nice to see someone that be able to break such a tricky topic down and make it easy to understand.

Well done!

[http://www.nature.com/biotech/index.html]

Prof.Burchard von Hohenzollern Aprile von Hohenstaufen Puoti

http://www.nature.com/biotech/index.html

[x-ray fluorescence]

Hi,
Nice.I certainly agree that international competition is a positive force for freedom. Congress is only as hopeless as the larger American demographic..

[Robert Nowinski]

It is certainly fascinating to consider what the future holds for biotechnology breakthroughs. The Popular Mechanics article is no exception.

Taking it a step further, as you did, to the economic impact both in the US and globally is interesting as well. I wonder how cost will progress, if computer technology cost trends would be of any predictor.