The World of Biochips: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

As the seconds, minutes, hours, and days go on; technology is expanding and growing at a rapid rate. Knowledge is becoming more powerful, therefore springing new advanced technologies on the world. One of those technologies is biochips.

Biochips are defined through the Webster's Dictionary as "a computer logic circuit or storage device in which the physical or chemical properties of large biological molecules (as proteins) are used to process information". In translating it into words that make sense, biochips are small circuits that are used to store information about living organisms and their vital information in order to process the information.

The technology of biochips has only been around since 1983, when it was first developed to monitor fisheries. Now it is being used on pets, lab animals, fisheries, endangered wild animals, automobiles, and also humans. Yes, humans.

The biochip is a small implant only inserted under the skin to be used as identification purposes. It's inserted into the skin through a hypodermic syringe. It is made out of a smooth glass the size of a grain of rice, a copper coil, and a capacitor.

An example of this type of technology is if you have ever taken in a kitten or puppy from the humane society. When I got my kitten at eight months old, she had a biochip implanted between her shoulder blades. The chip contains an identification number that is one of a kind for my cat that is recognizable worldwide.

So if your precious dog or kitty runs off and someone finds him or her, their tag on their collar will notify the person to call the number listed and you'll get a call stating where your pet is at. Great way to keep track of your frisky family member!

Another use of identification is on endangered wild animals. In this case, biochips are used to monitor the number of species that are out there, if they are breeding, as well as tracking them if believed sick in order assist them in being treated and released back into the wild.

The advantages to this is to help those that are endangered to not become endangered, however it is messing with the circle of life and the prospect that maybe there is a reason why these animals are endangered. But there are no dangers with the wild animals receiving the implants.

Automobiles also have biochips. These types of biochips are used for diagnostic purposes and vehicle identification purposes. I think this is a good idea because it would assist in locating a vehicle if the owner calls in distress or if a vehicle is stolen.

But then there is biochip usage in us...humans. The use of biochips on humans can be also heard under the term gene micro array. When it comes to the use of biochips on humans, it works a little bit differently. The chip is implanted in a way where it is able to bind with your DNA.

Over eighty government agencies have been working with biochips. The main purpose of course is to be used for identification purposes. Many believe this is an invasion of privacy. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, however look at the many advantages this could have on our society.

This would be a great use to find missing children, if this technology goes as far as an implant at birth, those who have been kidnapped or missing, can be easily found. This would cause less stress on our loved ones. And what about for rescue operations? When hurricane Katrina hit, many were missing, this could be used to find and rescue those stranded people before it's too late. It can also be used to monitor your medical data and vital signs.

Recently this type of implantable chip is being researched by The Department of Defense in hopes to be used for soldiers, to monitor their location and relay health information if the soldier was wounded in battle. This would be a great way to get medical data relayed of what the doctors may be dealing with before the patient ever gets to the hospital. Not only that, a biochip will make it easier to find that wounded soldier.

I recently spoke with a friend of mine stationed in Iraq and asked him questions regarding his opinion on the biochip, and these were his responses:

If the army wanted to plant a biochip beneath your skin that would assist in finding you if you were wounded in battle or missing in action, would you do it?"That would depend on the risk of it getting blown off or attracting the enemy's attention.

The chips could give off a GPS signal that could be tracked or maybe interfere with anything that is out there. Cause if you create something that can be used to track somebody then the technology will get stolen and used towards the wrong ends."

What if the biochip was integrated with your DNA, and they had access to all of the things that made you who you were, would you still get it implanted? "If they tampered with my DNA and tried to change who I was, then I would no longer be who I am and couldn't complain about them trying to change who I was."

Before joining the service, when you were talking to the recruiter, if he told you about the biochip and that it was mandatory, would you still have signed up?"I'm not sure, but if they made it mandatory for all new soldiers then he would already have it and would therefore be saying it was mandatory."

I also asked a friend of mine who used to be in the Navy some of the same questions, and here were his answers:

If the navy wanted to plant a biochip beneath your skin that would assist in finding you if you were wounded in battle or missing in action, would you do it? "If I had a choice, hell no."

Before joining the service, when you were talking to the recruiter, if he told you about the biochip and that it was mandatory, would you still have signed up? "No, I would not."

Based on the knowledge of the biochip possibility for those in the service, any other thoughts you would like to share? "Well, I think it's a good idea to do that in the first place, but why put in the skin? I mean, dog tags would also work or even just something they put into their uniform.

And who is to say they will take the chip out when your term of service is up? Not to mention, say you were captured and the enemy has the information to get rid of the chip, what then? Great concept, but they need to realize that we are still who we are. No one likes to be controlled all the time and will eventually try to remove the chip."

With all of these technological advances that are being brought to the public's attention, there is possibility that American soldiers may be required to wear the implant. But will they have a choice to have it removed after they serve their time in the military?

Then of course the possibility of not being able to have the biochip removed because of the DNA damage that may occur.

Before I had stated that I neither agreed nor disagreed with the idea of the invasion of privacy problem that many people may have with this, and here is why. I don't care if the government knows my name, address, social security number, when I have sex, or when I shower. My problem is what is in the DNA, in my body, that they will have access to.

Everything about me is in my DNA, everything meaning what makes me who I am. Every DNA gene or strand that reflects my behavior, my future, my health, my personality, and my intelligence. My genetic make up is me! If the government has easy access to that portion of me, then are they really my genes?

If the technology is out there to monitor and relay this information back to someone, than who says they don't have the technological advances and power to alter it? One day, I could be my self, shy and keeping to myself. And the next day I could be screaming at the top of my lungs in some bar or going skydiving.

There are some characteristics that would be a great thing to change, such as anger management disorders, or racism. However, there is another disadvantage to this... its man made.

Because it is man made already gives the biochip the likelihood of failure at some point in its manufactured life. Whether it is one year or ten years down the road, every electronically device fails or breaks. And if it does break down, if it is something mandatory, who gets the repair bill? Can the government afford to take responsibility for millions of people? Common sense says they should be prepared to if they are making a biochip implant mandatory.

A majority of the religious population sees this technology as the mark of the beast. Revelation 13:16 quotes a verse that all people whether small or great, rich or poor will receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads, this however doesn't match the current where about of where the chip is places, which have been, as said before, on the neck or the shoulder blades.

Many also think that if they accept the biochip, they are no longer being watched over by the Lord, they are being watched over by a lesser power, a more controlling power in a less than honest hand, our government. I personally do not agree with these ideas of the relation to this biochip and the mark of the beast.

In conclusion, there are some good aspects, some bad aspects, and some really ugly aspects about the biochips. Which brings us to the ultimate resolution, as far as the human population goes; do not make it mandatory. Have the individual who is in control of their own person deciding if they want to be implanted with a biochip. And any and all information must be disclosed to the person before the implant is performed.

As for domestic animals, I think the identification chip is a wonderful thing and can save and help many animals be returned to the ones they love. It's been over two years since my cat, Storm, had her implant and she is happy and healthy. Wild animals on the other hand can be questionable due to the fact that they are wild.

Many times once a wild animal is captured by humans, the human scent may cause problems when they are returned back to their pride or their families. My opinion is that this should only be done on rare and emergency occasions.

Keep on being yourself; you are you for a reason. And I don't know about you, but I wouldn't like to have any type of electronically device merged with my DNA just so I can be identified. I'm very happy with my pretty little state identification card and social security number to identify myself.