Biotechnologies in Perspective: Major Breakthroughs, Development of Self-regulating Systems and Possible Social Confrontations

In this chapter Grinin et al. concentrate on describing the current and future transformations in biotechnology in different spheres and its fusion with medicine and other MANBRIC technologies in terms of their forecasted huge impact on our future. The authors anticipate that in four decades our life will be absolutely impossible without biotechnologies. In particular, they have great hopes that biotechnologies: (a) will make a huge contribution to the victory over incurable and other diseases, including viral ones; (b) will enable a large number of people suffering from genetic abnormalities, dysfunctions of internal organs or tissue damage to return to a more active life with the help of artificial tissues and organs; (c) will greatly contribute to the fight against aging; (d) will considerably mitigate environmental problems, especially in cities, as well as facilitate the solution of the problem of biodiversity; (e) will become the leading sector in tackling the problem of food supply; (f) will significantly change technological and production processes, allowing waste-free production; and (g) will expand our ability to strategically manage natural processes. However, as COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, we could expect a great trouble if we will not control biotechnologies.