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Article ID: CBB920285686

If Technology Is a Parasite Masquerading as a Symbiont—Are We the Host? (September 2019)

IEEE Technology and Society Magazine
Volume: 38
Issue: 3
Pages: 24-33

DOI: 10.1109/MTS.2019.2930267

Publication Date: September 2019
Edition Details: Special issue on ISTAS 2018: Technology, Ethics and Policy
Language: English

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Metaphors; analogies Brain Technological innovation Neurotransmitters Zoology Neurophysiology Technology and ethics Technology and society Biomechanics Technology Metaphors; analogies parasites 21st century

According to William E. Rees, "[a] parasite is an organism that gains its utility by sapping the vitality of its host." A vivid illustration of this can be seen in WIRED science writer, Matt Simon's latest book, Plight of the Living Dead: What Real-Life Zombies Reveal about Our World - and Ourselves. Simon fastens on the startling machinations of "real" parasites and how they turn their hosts into agents of their own propagation. In his opening chapter, Simon zeroes in on Ampulex compressa, the jewel wasp, its "hypnotizing beauty — with big eyes and a precious green sheen to its body — [belying] its belligerence." The unlucky target of her design is a roach. In her first move, the wasp injects her venom loaded stinger between the roach's front legs. Included in the venom's more than two hundred compound brew is the weaponized central nervous system inhibiting neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). For five minutes, GABA paralyzes the roach's ability to block the wasp's next move with its front legs. The now unobstructed wasp removes her stinger and redeploys it to penetrate the now defenseless victim's neck and from there moves into its brain. The wasp, for now at least, is not trying to kill her prey as she feels around for the right spot [actually two spots] in the brain to inject her mind-control potion. These precise locations govern the roach's means of movement. After discharging her venom, the wasp again removes her stinger and lo and behold, in a few minutes the roach, instead of flooding with fear, begins grooming itself as though it hadn't a care in the world. [Peer reviewed]

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Article Jeremy Pitt; Katina Michael; Terri Bookman (September 2019) ISTAS 2018: Technology, Ethics, and Policy [Special Issue Introduction]. IEEE Technology and Society Magazine (pp. 21-23). unapi

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