Abstract

VILACA, Murilo Mariano  and  PALMA, Alexandre. Biological limits, biotechnoscience and transhumanism: a revolution in Public Health?. Interface (Botucatu) [online]. 2012, vol.16, n.43, pp. 1025-1038.  Epub Nov 30, 2012. ISSN 1414-3283.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1414-32832012005000042.

The biotechnology development provides advances in biotechnology that may initiate a revolution. In theory, there will be radical changes in the understanding, manipulation, and promotion of human life. It is possible that the so-called biological limits are exceeded, for example, freeing us from the disease process. Like the transhumanists, some are betting in the benefits, others, however, point out their hypothetical and serious harm, and it's the case of bioconservatives. In this paper the concepts of biotechnoscience and biotechnology are defined, analyzing critically their potential; the general aspects of transhumanism are described, contributing to the development of incipient debate about this controversial movement in Brazil; and we speculate on some implications of biotechnology-transhumanism interface, analyzing if it revolutionize completely the field of Public Health or if there is continuity and discontinuity.

Keywords : Biological limits; Biotechnoscience; Transhumanism; Ambiguities; Public Health.