HOMO MELIUS

Logitech x RCA x CERN

Grand Challenge 2020 2nd Prize

Scenario

The permanently damaged climates lead to rising sea levels and the destruction of coastal cities. When combined with land pollution, life on land was rendered impossible. People chose to live on floating cities which are able to better sustain the dangerous climate. More than ever, humans have to adapt to their dangerous environment. With minimal resources available on board, the production economy and creation of tools are a thing of the past. Therefore, to protect human civilisation and keep up to date with the times, we need to genetically engineer ourselves to survive in a changeable environment. A new human evolution that strives to beat the environment. It’s urgent to unlock more potential in our DNA and update humans to the latest version. Alternative adaptation is made through the use of DNA modification. New modified humans call themselves the Homo Melius.

Design

“Updating yourself works just like updating your phone.”

Updating your DNA works just like technology companies such as apple, with your body receiving regular alerts on what the newest update is. Updates could have minor impacts that are not noticeable by eye, but you may physically feel the change. For example, updates could be used as a source to fix problems that people are experiencing.

In the future, people will have a small device in their belly buttons implanted at birth. Belly buttons, which are used to carry nutrients from mother to child, lose their functions after birth. With our device, they gain their biological usage again as recipients for updating DNA. This new implanted belly button has been created using human cells to integrate the body of the users on a long time scale.

People can insert new DNA capsules inside the device where the liquid will be absorbed into the human body.

Poster

by Livia Papiernik, Leon Grillet, Liner Shen, Shang Wu, Hyehyun Song, Ling Jiang, Ling Qin, Lauren Powell, Sara Monacchi, Hyunwoo Lee

Nov. 2019 - Jan. 2020