BIOCHIPS

The human body is the next big target of chipmakers. It won’t be long before biochip implants will come to the rescue of sick, those who are lost, gunned soldiers and wandering mental patients etc. Medical researchers have been working to integrate chips and people for many years, often plucking devices from well known electronic appliances. Biochips are being used to genetic, toxicological, protein and biochemical researches. It can also be used to rapidly detect chemical agents used in biological warfare so that defensive measures can be taken. Currently implanted systems have got a range of about two to twelve inches. Most of us won’t like the idea of implanting a biochip in our body that identifies us uniquely and can be used to track our location. That would be a major loss of privacy. But there is a flip side to this! Such biochips could help agencies to locate lost children, downed soldiers and wandering Alzheimer’s patients