Dazzling Advances in Science and Technology, Falling Behind Means You Can't Catch Up [Reading Science]

Published 29 Aug.2022 08:53(KST)

If you don’t watch the news for a few months, you’ll encounter a lot of unfamiliar terms. With the advancement of biotechnology, humans are now venturing into the realm of the divine through science and technology.

Consider the recent artificial stem cell-based mouse embryo studies announced this month by research teams from Israel and the United Kingdom. They created embryos directly from mouse pluripotent stem cells without fertilization. These embryos were grown in artificial wombs up to 8.5 weeks, during which the formation and development of various organs such as the brain, heart, and nervous system were observed. The birth of ‘artificial life’ is becoming possible. The foundational and core technologies for research aimed at uncovering the mysteries of life, analyzing the causes of various diseases that occur in early development such as genetic disorders, and developing treatments are maturing.

The protein structure prediction AI algorithm ‘AlphaFold2’ and its database, released by Google DeepMind at the end of last month, are also shocking. Through AI, it has revealed the structures of over 200 million proteins existing on Earth, including those encoded by human DNA. Understanding protein structures is tantamount to uncovering not only the causes of diseases but also the mechanisms of their treatment and outcomes. This is groundbreaking news for drug development, genetic disorders, severe diseases such as cancer, and infectious viruses.

Now imagine combining this with gene-editing technology. Of course, numerous studies and technological developments must precede this, but it could become possible to use precise gene-editing tools to treat diseases or enhance specific functions when problems arise in human genes. There have already been claims from China that, at the end of 2018, twins were born who were immune to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) through gene editing.

In astronomy, the James Webb Space Telescope is establishing a new epoch. It is poised to soon uncover the mysteries of the universe’s origin and the existence of extraterrestrial life. Quantum science is realizing unimaginable discoveries such as ‘invisibility cloaks’ by understanding the properties and behaviors of matter at the atomic level. Technologies like ultra-high-density, high-performance semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and unmanned/autonomous mobility are also developing remarkably.

Watching these advances in science and technology brings many thoughts. Can humanity truly overcome numerous risks such as global warming through science and technology and continue sustainable development? Even if successful, might we become a monstrous group, like the aliens in movies, invading planet after planet like locust swarms to steal resources driven by infinite greed?

No one knows for sure, but one thing is certain: falling behind makes catching up increasingly difficult. Korea, devastated by war, became a wealthy advanced technology nation 70 years later. However, it has become virtually impossible for underdeveloped countries to leap into advanced nations and transform their fortunes within a few decades. The infrastructure and capital needed for such a leap have grown larger, and the time and barriers for ‘accumulation’ have become higher. This is why we must diligently invest in fundamental and original research and development (R&D) and nurture talent.

However, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration effectively cut next year’s national R&D investment in June. Although the total amount increased by 1.7% compared to this year, considering inflation, it actually decreased. The trend of significant increases over the past decade has been broken. Despite no decrease in tax revenue, the government used economic conditions as an excuse to cut funding, increasing only in preferred areas.