About the HU Founders Program

DNA Stewardship is the foundation of our human franchise

The Humanist Union Society (Canada) is introducing a cooperative program whereby humans can set aside a few centuries for additional life cycles. This somewhat immodest proposition will depend on two facts:

1. That cryobanks can preserve our DNA samples to remain viable indefinitely. Example: Membership in the HU includes a fortified and purified sample of your DNA sealed in a stainless capsule, to remain unchanged for a century if required, at room temperature. Your blood sample is returned to you for your own keeping. The HU also offers DNA stewardship to include tissues specifically suitable for reproduction, as an option. Whole blood and tissues are computer-lowered to < -137 C to a state of glass-like vitrification within vapor over liquid nitrogen, avoiding the hazards of liquid immersion. These programs are each delivered by Canada’s most advanced cryobank, in Vancouver. The HU can negotiate, administer and track your samples in any facility, globally.

2. That our identity and seed are found within our DNA. This sounds reasonable, but many will maintain that it is based solely in the brain or memories. In the light of the new collective intelligence sciences, the DNA within every living cell is our unique blueprint for Life. Once it is extinguished, so too is our franchise in this Universe.

The meaning of life is more life. A pathway is evident - and ‘the loading has begun’.

Securigene Stainless DNA Capsules

Rationale

Given the above two premises a quiet, patient time machine lies at our disposal. As a network designer, I believe we can leverage this interim immortality to carve out a few more life cycles during the coming centuries - for ourselves. This project requires human engineering, assisted and protected by our own unaltered species, within a tolerant credo loosely considered to be Humanism.

With the emergence of collective intelligence, and simple common sense about the functions of DNA in biochemistry - that if our body has this same molecule inside every living cell - it far supersedes the influence of any individual organ such as the brain or liver (which many consider to actually be our ‘smartest’ partner/organ).

I reiterate this because the opportunity for regeneration via our own seed exists just as surely as an acorn can become an oak, and once we appreciate that—a virgin Universe lies at our behest. We have identified, fortified and purified our seed, and there is no doubt that biobanks can store that seed for centuries, given proper stewardship. It costs very little and DNA cryobanking is a mature, everyday tech.

Provisioning our Life network

So far, if we accept 1) that DNA is our seed and that 2) biobanks can keep tissue samples viable indefinitely - the next question is how would regeneration come about? And how can we be confident this would truly be ourself within a fresh life cycle?

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is the leading model for regeneration of our personal phenotype, followed by Ectogenesis - which is full gestation within an artificial womb. Currently, this means replacing the DNA in a human egg cell with our own DNA, then the technology developed to assist premature babies completes development, gestation and birth. It must be noted that this technology is not yet fully mature, and we must wait for that to catch up. As an update, two primate monkeys were cloned via ectogenesis gestation. It is the proper study of the HU to adopt this tech and its ownership within its annual budgets.

Although the EG process has been proven to work, obstacles remain before it will be accepted within conventional medicine. Nonetheless, a pathway has clearly opened toward successive life cycles, and when the brass ring appears at the fork in the road - grab it.

If DNA is our seed and biobanks will preserve it for centuries, we can expect ectogenesis to come into common usage, if only to afford women some relief from conventional pregnancy - as their option. The implications for gender and sex identities are profound. Women’s commentary and partnership here is most welcome!

How can we be sure that an infant born after this process is truly ourselves?

There are again two facts to keep in mind, for successful regeneration of ourself:

1. With SCNT, exactly one molecule of our DNA is transferred into the egg cell, and that DNA is yours alone. There is no mixing of DNA with another mating partner. This is a critical point - this is full biological continuity - it is an unbroken chain of Life based on one, personal phenotype - yours. That is the HU’s only model.

2. At the end of EG an infant is born, and during gestation its DNA is tested to confirm a match with the intended, personal DNA. These tests begin early in development, then accompanying smart contracts are ratified by the HU Oracles via Chainlink. This is how the Ethereum Blockchain carries its contracts and their long-term funding through to fruition, for all parties concerned. It will be incontestable.

Administering that Ethereum blockchain is the HU’s ultimate function and rationale, via its constitution. The HU is a non-profit, non-reporting private BC Society/DAO, similar to a private golf club - is member-owned and democratic at all times.

Anticipating Critics

We recognize that regeneration with our provided DNA constitutes personal reproduction, and represents a distinctive alternative within our species. Critics may claim that this infant isn’t the same ‘person’ because her/his memories are non-existent. I ask you to review this claim in your mind - does it make sense for any infant to be born with a raft of adult memories? A baby’s mind is tabula rasa, devoid of any information beyond what evolution and instinct has afforded them - as all newborn mammals set out with.

The implications for our species are too broad to summarize here. My feeling is that - if the meaning of life is more life - this is how we do it and every human will be motivated to adapt to the new life opportunities and strategies now presenting themselves, unto eventual Transhumanism - if so decided. We can adapt to and control AGI by quietly and deliberately taking a few centuries to domesticate all AI within conservative human priorities.

Blockchain Execution

After setting aside funds for birth, childhood and youth, the smart contracts are rewarded by Society Oracles (Chainlink) connecting real-world events to Ethereum. Success is redeemed for the right reasons, by the relevant people.

Ethereum has no 3rd party issuer - it is not a ‘taxable security’ - and ETH promises to be a universal block currency that ensures the confidentiality that the HU Society requires. ETH can be staked in denominations similar to bonds, and earn funds to provide a continuing income for many of the parties concerned. ETH is expected to be deflationary, as its price and dividends appreciate over time, and its fees are ‘burned’. In all, the Ethereum blockchain is ideal as a DAO institution dealing independently and anonymously, globally, in support of human aspiration.

Please take the time to consider the modest arrangements needed for Genity : the comfort of having your DNA secured, then funded for future lifetimes.

The fee for a Founding Membership in the HU is 1 ETH or dollar equivalent, at time of registry.

Contact:  Dwight G. Jones, Moderator 

dwight at humanistunion.com