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A MIDIAN CITY NOTECARD
"Nanotechnology and Stem Cells"
August 2009
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NANOTECHNOLOGY AND STEM CELLS
Nanotechnology and stem cells are fairly new technologies that
have only recently been approved and introduced into medical
related applications. They are expensive and therefore usually
found in the most advanced corporate funded medical centers.
They might have been further along in development and
availability if it were not for the war. Like most technologies,
during the war resources, research and production was diverted
mostly towards war related efforts.
Purpose:
01) Nanotechnology uses small nanobots to aid and facilitate in
faster healing of the body (rate depending on "grade") restore
the tissue and its cells according to the information contained
within the receiver’s genetic code.
02) Nanotechnology can, depending on grade restore sight (over
time), repair internal injuries and aid in the surgical
reattachment of lost limbs.
03) Nanotechnology can help the receiver "live through"
poisoning by hopefully regenerating the body fast enough to
prevent death, although the victim would be incapacitated
throughout the process.
04) Stem cell technology. Stem cells contain the DNA for all
possible cells of that species. They can be transformed into
more specialized cells using cellular differentiation. Stem cell
technology is designed to infuse an individual’s cells at a
specific location with stem cells and is mainly used for the
production of new internal organs or the regeneration of
diseased ones. Organs are laboratory grown based upon the
receiver’s genetic information and are therefore have a very low
rate of rejection by the recipient. Given the high cost, very
few can afford such procedures at this time, and most opt for
organ replacement via organ donor, rather than newly grown
organs from a lab, though face a much higher rate of rejection
by the recipient.
Drawbacks:
01) Nanobots build/repair cells one atom at the time and put
these atoms together to form molecules. The human body consists
99% of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon atoms. A victim's body
provides the "fuel" for the nanobots to work, so a seriously
injured victim will need a major infusion of these atomic
building blocks in order to "feed" the nanobot, or subject will
risk death due to systemic collapse. This would need to be done
under careful medical supervision. Nanobot therapy is most often
done in a medical tank full of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon rich
nutrient fluid.
02) They restore the tissue to the state encoded in the
receiver’s genome. If the receiver has undergone alterations
that were not at the genetic level, the nanotech would "reject"
them or cause major complications as they try to restore the
victim to its original state. The most common form of rejection
is flesh trying to regrow over or inside cybernetic implants.
03) The results of nanotech, like most drugs and gene therapy,
are unpredictable on radically-altered genomes, so if they are
applied to someone with genetic modifications - the results
might not always be helpful. Use of nanotechnology on a vampire
would likely have no effect other than perhaps to make the
individual sick, as they would have no effect upon "dead"
tissue.
04) Frequent repeat-application of nanotech to a normal person
can actually reduce and degrade a victim's immune-response
system, often producing cancer and in some cases, AIDS-like
symptoms.
Types:
They come in 3 grades: "Clinical", "Surgical" and “Inudstrial”
Clinical... are intended for hospital use or application by a
skilled medic or nurse in the field. These run the victim's
blood-stream and autonomously work to restore cell-trauma in a
decreasing priority of importance (they fix the big stuff first
and then the small stuff). Clinical nanobots re at-risk of
reacting badly to altered genomes and medical supervision is
strongly advised for the 24 hours they remain "active" in the
victim's system. They enhance healing rate to about x6 while
they remain active. They cost about as much as a luxury car per
dose. These are produced by Ashagi. They would be found at the
Midian City Medical Center and Ashagi. Very few factions would
keep these in stock, and those that do would only have a limited
supply.
Surgical... are intended for use by a highly skilled physician
under very controlled circumstances. Surgical nanobots act VERY
quickly and likewise can go astray VERY quickly in an altered
genome. Surgical nanobots can perform "miracles" in re-attaching
limbs, healing horrible 3rd degree burns or other major trauma
within a few hours, but if used outside a full medical suite -
they can also potentially kill the receiver or mutate them into
a misshaped freak (think most likely a terrible accelerated
cancer tumor). Limbs re-attached by surgical nanobots "look"
perfect, but the tissue remains "fragile" for up to a month
afterwards, based on the victims receptiveness to
nanotechnology-treatment. They cost about as much as a luxury
home per dose. No factions would have these in stock except for
the UAC and Blackstar. These are produced by Ashagi. They would
ONLY be found only at the Midian City Medical Center and Ashagi.
Industrial...are single purpose nanomachines that can do one or
two chemical functions like "polish metal", "carry oxygen" or
"stimulate this part of the brain". Given their predictable
nature, they are as safe and dangerous for medical use as any
other drug. Examples of different 'industrial' nanobots are:
Artificial red blood cells, healing bones, strengthening bones,
time released adrenaline, artificial insulin, blocking pain
receptors, etc...
They cost a few thousand credits per dose. These are produced by
Ashagi. They would be found at the Midian City Medical Center
and Ashagi. Very few factions would keep these in stock because
of their high cost and limited use without a medical tank, and
those that do would only have a limited supply.
Stem Cells… come in two types, fetal stem cells and artificial
stem cells. These are produced by Ashagi. Fetal stem cells are
much cheaper. They would ONLY be found only at the Midian City
Medical Center and Ashagi.
Limitations:
01) Nanotechnology and stem cells CANNOT be used in battle, as a
weapon, defense or healing during battle.
02) Use of Nanotechnology is a process that takes a considerable
amount of time. It is not an instantaneous process.
03) Both technologies are considerably expensive.
04) Nanotechnology and stem cells are only available from
limited large corporate sources. “Who” gets to buy them would be
the subject of some politicking.
05) The ability to use the above technologies does in some ways
offset the natural (or un-natural) abilities possessed by some
of the other Midian groups or races.
06 ) There are no nanobot "farms" or producers outside of Ashagi.
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