Trantor wrote:So, what´s to do? Scientifically? Systematically? Technically? Else?
Okay. Some things which can be metabolized and some of the processes by which those materials are broken down are worse than others, due to transition states and other various matters. You can metabolize ethanol, but some of the transition states between consumption and final breakdown will hurt your liver more than unprocessed ethanol will. Biochemically you can handle
some isopropyl alcohol, and it may have similar effects to ethyl alcohol, but drinking it still isn't the best idea and it will never replace ethanol (which is, of course, poison in its own right. Sweet, beautiful poison). Some molecules that we can't actually use still interact with the structures that we use in our metabolic processes, like cyanide, which basically ruins your cellular respiration process. Some molecules that we can't/don't metabolize interact oddly in other ways, like LSD. Some molecules that we don't have enzymes for are dangerous and some are not and to know which is which we would need a better understanding of all possible human protein structures, as (with a total unknown) any of them could end up being an Achilles heel. We'd want to know every stage of the process and everything that might collide with this process at any stage.
With molecules that we can find on Earth, it'll probably be fairly simple for us and we likely have a lot of the poisons already identified and their danger levels fairly well understood; many centuries of trial and error have already been conducted on human subjects, after all (people put the strangest things in their mouths). If alien food is made out of common earthly biochemical recipes then in 150 years it should be simple enough to avoid immediate death. Even semi-artificial molecules, like LSD, are understood on our end. But, y'know, aliens. I'm not entirely confident that the things we might run into out there will even have DNA, though I admit I'm a carbon chauvinist. So no promises on everything they come with being some familiar substance.
With unknown molecules, we need to flesh out the specifics of protein interactions and complex protein forms (which hasn't happened yet, our studies of the human proteome aren't complete). The relevent studies are already well under way and have made significant progress. I expect us to have mapped out not only all human protein structures but all standard interactions by Alex's time. They should be able to predict a whole lot of things without resorting to live test subjects that we currently cannot. I have a fairly high confidence that within the next century we will have all human biochemical structures understood well enough to tell what will kill or not kill a human, in the short term. But, last time I checked, we still couldn't quite chemically explain how LSD does its work, which means that in I'm gonna say 2007-ish we still had limited ability to predict how a non-metabolized molecule would interact with the brain cells and what effects it would have there. LSD isn't toxic, but surely even its most vocal advocates would admit that if some aliens used it to color their food, the effects on a human diplomatic delegation could be seen as alarming and unwanted. We're obviously doing a LOT of studies in the field of neurology on all sorts of matters, especially biochemistry (people do want that whole "immortality" thing, you know), so, by Alex's time, I wouldn't worry about it. Admittedly LSD is not exactly the best comparison to the sort of predictive chemistry you're asking about, being a known chemical with known effects and studies of which are currently trying to understand HOW it has its known psychedelic effects rather than IF it might have any effects, but, one step at a time.
Now, even with the best sorts of predictive models, you're going to want actual lab tests and results. Culturing cells from various tissues and seeing what happens after they're exposed to various concentrations might sound crude, but it's a better idea than just hoping that "well if we/the aliens have an enzyme that can break the chemical down then it'll be fine." I'm of the opinion that you'll want a few stages in between the computer models and actual human test subjects anyways. We can't necessarily rely on something like a computer model right now, and I don't think we should rely
exclusively on computer models in the future even if they seem like they might be good enough. I don't think we'll ever fully abandon the laboratory technician for the programmer.
So, you'll want a much more fleshed-out model of the human proteome detailing all variant forms and interactions (these projects are already underway) and/or such a fleshed-out model of the aliens' proteome (no promises), a full understanding of the chemistry of the food items in question (can be arranged), some lab tests on tissue samples, and some very tentative tests on live test subjects with very thorough monitoring after attaining the aliens' informed consent on the matter.
ed_montague wrote:4. Profit! (By which, of course, I mean start your own "Humaniti Alcohol & Spirits" brewery/distillery/whatever)
The Solar Spice and Liquors Company.
10 internet points for anyone who knows the reference without looking it up.
