BIOTECH 2050:RETROACTIVE FUTURE FORECASTS AND REALITIES

SUMMARY

The fusion of AI and retrospective analysis techniques has opened a groundbreaking avenue for predicting and shaping the future of biotechnology and its impact on humanity. This interdisciplinary approach uses historical data and AI algorithms to predict future trends, innovations and their societal impact. AI's capabilities in processing complex data sets allow for the identification of patterns and potential advances that would otherwise remain hidden. Furthermore, the intersection of AI with blockchain technology demonstrates a novel approach to improving quality of life through modern biotechnology.

This work highlights the potential of AI to enhance biotechnological developments while addressing ethical concerns, thereby forecasting the direction of science and technology and seeking ethical alternatives.

BACKGROUND

Many innovators are trying to predict the next big thing. If we look at some of the predictions from the late 1970s and early 1980s about what the year 2000 might look like, some of them would make us laugh because of their sheer hyperbole. In short, it's now 2024 and we still can not cure cancer. Then there were far more ambitious predictions such as human hibernation, organs grown in vitro for transplants and the regeneration of entire body parts.

Most of these failed predictions were based on overconfidence and a lack of rigorous scientific methodology. Instead of using a forecasting style that uses current biotechnological development as a trend, it would be more rigorous if we took a retrospective approach and conducted comparative studies on the history of biotechnology. Instead of using a classical forecasting method, I have used an innovative AI-based retrospective approach to show the future of biotechnology in 25 years. To this end, I considered the integration of AI (chatGPT), predictive and biotech elements (RetroGenix Suite, FutureBioNet) and time to reflect the innovative and predictive nature of this approach, the so-called "BiotechTimeTraveler".

AI IN RETROACTIVE BIOTECH FORECASTING

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into biotechnology has opened up a transformative approach to predicting future trends and advances. This synthesis of disciplines has enabled retrospective analysis that uses historical data to predict the development of biotech innovations. The ability of AI to process and analyze huge data sets with intricate patterns is critical for identifying potential breakthroughs and directing research (Cebo and Holzinger, 2024). In addition, the resources provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) play a crucial role in facilitating access to biological data, increasing the predictive accuracy of AI in this area (Bourex, 2022).

FUTURE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY BY 2050

In general, biotechnology will remain closely, if not indispensably, linked to human society in the first half of the 21st century. Biotechnology has a close, if not indispensable, relationship with human society. The development of biological and non-biological medicines, the production and processing of food, the clinical application of genetic diagnosis and treatment, and bionics are all experiencing extensive development thanks to the increasing interest and funding of biotech start-ups that began around 10 years ago.

DRUG DEVELOPMENT IN 15+ YEARS

In the field of drug development, biologics, such as monoclonal antibodies and DNA-based vaccines, have taken a significant market share from traditional pharmaceutical products. Large-scale production of biopharmaceuticals, both in the form of tissue cultures and transgenic organisms, provides important medical reagents that previously could only be obtained from humans, such as Factor Xa and certain types of blood cells for targeted transfusions. However, traditional medicine based on small molecules still has a considerable share of the market. As a result of the massive increase in computing power resulting from the industrial application of quantum computing, the initial screening of small molecule candidates is being replaced by computer-simulated, targeted design of specific compounds, significantly shortening Phase I of drug discovery and development.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS FEED THE GENERAL POPULATION

The proportion of genetically modified (GM) plants used in food production and processing continues to increase. Although the first genetically modified plants have already been tested for a generation, public opinion on genetically modified products is still very divided, resulting in a bifurcated food market. In addition to GM crops, GM animal products have also been marketed on a large scale, significantly shortening the product cycle and making protein available to a wider population at a lower cost.

WESTERN COUNTRIES BAN GENE THERAPY

Genetic diagnostics and the application of the big data derived from it have become an integral part of society. They are not limited to medical purposes, but are also used as important reference factors in the field of health insurance, birth risk analysis and even in the calculation of personal credit, serving as both positive and negative factors. Clinically, gene therapy is capable of disrupting, removing and repairing unwanted fragments in the genome at the individual level, enabling a complete cure for retrovirus-associated diseases and genetic defects. However, the practice of such genetic manipulation of reproductive organs and germ cells is still highly controversial, which has (still) led to a ban in most Western countries. Author's opinion: Absurd Western population! In the early 2030s, China officially lifts the ban on human cloning and embryonic stem cell cloning . A new era of biology / intelligent biology begins!

STEM CELLS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY

After nearly a century of development and maturation, bionics and related technologies are experiencing a great flowering in 2035. Advanced bionic implants using neurosensory adaptors have been used in patients who have completely lost their hearing or vision at the organ level. Embedded computational units that simulate part of the neural network in the brain help patients regain normal brain activity after trauma. Similarly, stem cells can be precisely pre-programmed before administration to ensure that they differentiate into the desired tissues or organs, suggesting that the technological revolution, including miniaturization and the transition to nanotechnology, is being fed by new discoveries in human biology. This vision aligns with the use of AI to unravel the complexity of cellular nanomachines to help predict and develop new biotechnological innovations that enable repair and regeneration at the molecular level. By 2040, the highly anticipated blood-infusible nanorobot technologies will be developed to the point where they can be used in humans, for example to treat neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. This will be achieved by developing a fully AI-driven, efficient control system that precisely controls the behaviour of the nanorobots in vivo.

CONCLUSION AND OUTLOOK

In summary, the biotechnology sector in 2050 is both fulfilling and challenging. The advancement of breakthrough technologies gives enormous impetus to many areas such as agriculture, medicine and the integration of humans and computers, but also creates new challenges and controversies, such as the possibility of making heritable genetic modifications in humans and the complete transformation of traditional life and the health insurance industry.

By providing an outlook on the future of biotech development and the associated social implications in the form of a futuristic science story, I hope that my analysis can serve as a reference for bioentrepreneurs in their decision-making process and help them make better decisions for the advancement of the biotech industry today.