DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid: The molecule that contains within its bases codes the genetic map for all life.). The stuff of life. A twin chain of nucelotides (Nucleotides: The basic segments, that when arranged in sequences of three called Codons determines the arrangement of proteins.) arranged in a double helix, as much for error checking as convenient storage. DNA is an important molecule, without it life would not have happened. It not only maps out the development of each organism, it also contains a record of nearly all the steps that lead to its evolution. Sections of this chain are preserved, the same sequence found in nearly all lesser creatures, back to the beginning of life itself. In order to keep DNA as accurate as possible it is designed to error check, the second strand acting as a template. But it is not perfect. Chemicals and radiation are capable of severing or altering that sequence, corrective proteins work to fix the damage, viruses are able to add new segments to existing DNA. To make matters worse the act of procreation merges separate DNA patterns to create a new one, some of those sections are not even active, and serve no current purpose. Others wait for triggers. Many diseases are caused by various malfunctions of DNA. Down's Syndrome occurs when a pair of chromosomes are joined by an unwanted third. Cancers are often caused by the expression of latent oncogenes. Some genetic diseases lead to deformities or other problems.
This is a perfect place to use nanites. Small enough to enter the nuclear membrane they are able to selective manipulate the cell's DNA. They can recode, remove or restore sections to correct birth defects. They can be used to snip out the new genetic material injected by viruses.
Supplied in single dose hyposprays this medical aid can make casts and splints a thing of the past. It injects a small amount of nanites into the skin directly over a break. The busy little nanites get to work repairing the fracture or break in the bone. It should be noted that a boneknit injection will not straighten a limb, and will in fact attempt to repair the break in whatever configuration is current. The bone will take 1d6hrs to set after being aligned, then should be kept still or preferably immobilized for the next 24 hours.
Though not nanotech this another useful tool for medtechs in 2020. The traditional plaster cast is heavy, and time consuming to make. The spray cast is anything but. A large canister under pressure contains a quick setting polymer foam. The medtech makes sure an even layer of foam is sprayed around the limb to immobilize it. The foam hardens with air contact into a fairly rigid cast (SP: 5, SDP: 10). The cast is porous, and unaffected by water or common environmental pollutants. It will stay intact until a specific solvent is used to remove it. The cast itself is very effective, and can immobilize a limb of up to 10 body. Numerous criminal figures have used this product to make very effective bonds.
On the streets of any modern city the police often have to deal with well armed and well armored criminals. To make matters worse the cops are not always free to use the appropriate level of response. But with the modern criminal it often comes down to kill or be killed. One way to correct this stalemate is to remove the criminal's armor. But up until now acid has been the only viable solution to kevlar's universal availability. But acid has its own side effects. The vicious acid burns have often proved enough for lawyers to free their clients, even in 2020 police brutality catches people's attention. So the police arranged with Militech to create a new brand of basic nanite, one that finds kevlar irresistible. The new anti-kevlar nanite is delivered in a paintball round, or in a liquid medium. It is capable of stripping kevlar armor of 5 SP's per round, for up to 3 rounds. It has absolutely no side effects when exposed to human tissue.
But why has this been included here as well as in the Nanotech Weapons section? The reason is simple. In a hospital it may often be necessary to get an injured patient out of his armor or get access to an armored piece of cyberwear. How else do they do it? The options are fairly limited, nanites or a good saw...and nanites are faster, safer and cleaner.
Cancer, one of the most unusual diseases that afflicts man. A cancer cell for some reason suddenly decides to ignore the DNA blueprint and grow out of control. Unlike regular cells the cancer cell never seems to show signs of degeneration due to aging, samples have been cultured in labs that are decades old. There are two basic types of cancer and they tend to damaged different types of cells. The benign or the malignant. Benign cancers tend to affect areas such as the brain, and while a tumor may grow large enough to threaten the patient's life it doesn't spread. Malignant cancers are worse, they can affect almost any other region of the body and have the alarming tendency to mestasize or spread, affecting larger regions. As native body cells the regular defenses are rarely able to affect them. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment, considered the lesser of two evils are traditionally used to fight cancer. But modern advances in nanotechnology, and particularly the guided form of nanite can make cancer that much easier to combat. The nanites are guided by skilled surgeons and an advanced computer to either correct the genetic damage that triggered the cancer or remove all traces of the afflicted cells.
Initially designed to provide controlled doses of insulin to diabetic patients for long periods of time, the basic nanofactory has been reengineered for a wide variety of illegal applications. These rare applications are very expensive and hardly ever sold on the street. A set of nanites is injected along with a small recharging implant. The nanites are designed to build a basic set of chemicals from available materials under triggered conditions, in the case of diabetics the level of blood sugar. With a slight alteration to the recharge implant, which also houses the sensors, and a new program the factory can be set to produce any known drug. Since this would eliminate the need for repeat business from the drug dealer it is obvious why such a device would be very expensive.
This model of nanotech is also available in a short term model, which produces the drug for up to a month before ceasing to function.
Nanotech can be so dangerous that people rightly fear it. As a result the most people that have even a clue about its lethal applications are more than willing to run to the nearest hospital as soon as nasty unexplained things begin happening to their bodies. Most hospitals are equipped to inject neutralizing nanites, or begin the research needed to find a new agent. Therefore occasionally a new breed of killer nanite is introduced. This is such a monster. It works on mammals in much the same way that the insecticide DDT (a chlorinated hydrocarbons compound awarded a Nobel Prize in 1948, banned from all but emergency use) does, by affecting the transmission of nerve impulses. DDT killed literally by burning out an insect's nervous system. The nanite based variant works under the same principal, but is designed to function slowly. The target begins to receive a +1 bonus to all initiative and reflex checks each week till death occurs on week 5. The effect is so gradual and beneficial that most infected targets will never think to get medical attention.