Frameshifts is published by Frameshifts, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under the name FRAMESHIFTS. Our mission is to advance public understanding of biotechnology and the life sciences. We pursue this mission through Frameshifts, a freely available publication and interview podcast that breaks down research in genetic engineering, computational biology, and lifespan extension for students, scientists, and the general public. Frameshifts, Inc. EIN: 39-3398156 680 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105 Frameshifts, Inc. operates two domains: frameshifts.org, our primary website, and frameshifts.bio, which hosts this publication and our organizational email. Both are owned and operated by Frameshifts, Inc.
Why did I start Frameshifts?
As many of you know, I believe that humanity can and should strive to become an immortal and disease-free species.
For most of my life, I have been disturbed by the fact that humans die. When I was young, I was a constant hypochondriac.
I forced my parents to take me to the cardiologist at age 9 because I was convinced I was having a heart attack.
Between the ages of 12 and 16, I visited multiple different doctors because I was convinced I had lymphoma.
Looking back, it’s obvious why I was (and still am) so anxious by the state of my health.
Humanity still has no control whatsoever over its mortal destiny. We are but tumbling peoples in the cosmic stream.
The best medical inventions of our time: CAR T-cell therapy, partial reprogramming and gene therapy are mere child’s play in the grand complexity of biology.
We still do not have good answers to the questions “when will I die?” and “how can I live longer?”
Our best minds are building B2B SaaS and consumer apps. Our best institutions are gate-kept by bureaucrats who believe that death is good. Our best researchers are focussed on niche, obscure, conservative projects backed by risk-averse government grants.
This is deeply disturbing to me. We can do better.
Humanity’s most consequential problem is death. It is by far the most expensive and pressing consumer-facing problem. Emotional considerations aside, death deprives us of our most brilliant minds, and robs us of their economic output. We spend 17% of our GDP on healthcare precisely because we have not mastered biology.
It is more important than transitioning the planet to sustainable energy or becoming a multi-planetary species.
How can we call ourselves an advanced species when we die in the same way as a bear or a worm?
Yes there are problems with living forever.
Who decides who gets to live and who dies?
Will the earth reach population carrying capacity?
Who is allowed to have kids?
How does democracy work when the demographics of the electorate don’t change?
How is power distributed when the old guard never gives way to young humans with new thoughts?
How is wealth distributed in a world where the rich never die?
Do we become a stagnant society that collapses under its own bureaucracy?
Does social mobility decline to levels last seen during feudalism?
These are questions that need to be answered by a new constitution. And then a new bill of rights to fix the mistakes.
I’ll try my best to answer those questions too. But first, we must win the revolution.
A couple weeks ago, I found myself hanging out with biotech founders and researchers in Lake Tahoe at the Longevity Biotech Fellowship.
Something is brewing in longevity biotech.
Humanity needs to become an immortal and disease-free species.
And you should be a part of it.
If you want to learn more about this space without doing an incredible amount of grunt work, Frameshifts publishes a free weekly newsletter. Every week I break down papers in genetic engineering, computational biology, and lifespan extension research.
Subscribe for free to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.
What we publish
Frameshifts breaks down primary research in genetic engineering, computational biology, and lifespan extension. Our written explainers and interviews with researchers, founders, and clinicians are published free of charge as an educational resource.
Frameshifts, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
