DNA researcher to announce artificial life

[Tom Storer]

From The Guardian:

Craig Venter, the controversial DNA researcher involved in the race to decipher the human genetic code, has built a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals and is poised to announce the creation of the first new artificial life form on Earth.

The announcement, which is expected within weeks and could come as early as Monday at the annual meeting of his scientific institute in San Diego, California, will herald a giant leap forward in the development of designer genomes. It is certain to provoke heated debate about the ethics of creating new species and could unlock the door to new energy sources and techniques to combat global warming.

Mr Venter told the Guardian he thought this landmark would be "a very important philosophical step in the history of our species. We are going from reading our genetic code to the ability to write it. That gives us the hypothetical ability to do things never contemplated before".

[porcy62]

Nah, he's not a real news. This is the first, admittedly unsuccessfull, attempt of artificial life.

[John Tapscott]

From The Guardian:

Mr Venter told the Guardian he thought this landmark would be "a very important philosophical step in the history of our species. We are going from reading our genetic code to the ability to write it. That gives us the hypothetical ability to do things never contemplated before".

Uh-oh.

[Jazzmoose]

I had an artificial life once...

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

From The Guardian:

Mr Venter told the Guardian he thought this landmark would be "a very important philosophical step in the history of our species. We are going from reading our genetic code to the ability to write it. That gives us the hypothetical ability to do things never contemplated before".

Uh-oh.

Seconded!

MG

[JSngry]

I can't wait for the atheism debate amongst this new form of created life!

[Tom Storer]

Come on, doesn't anybody think this is:

a) thrilling

b) frightening

c) both

I got a couple of uh-ohs. That's it?

[Jazzmoose]

I'm with Jim...what happens when there are beings who can argue intelligent design...and have proof?

[JSngry]

Well, with humans as the designer, how "intelligent" can the design be?

[porcy62]

Well, with humans as the designer, how "intelligent" can the design be?

Well, looking at all the assholes of the past and present, produced by a divine intelligent designer, we can do much worse.

[Tom Storer]

I'm telling you, this is the beginning of developments both wonderful and awful. Genetic engineering has been with us for a short while already, but this is another order of magnitude (if it is confirmed, of course). A homemade chromosome is only the start. It will end with us modifying our own genome, and creating alternate ones of comparable complexity. The species will begin to design itself and other species, wresting control from nature. It won't be within our lifetime--or rather, it won't end in our lifetime. It's already started! And you guys make quips!

[7/4]

I'm telling you, this is the beginning of developments both wonderful and awful. Genetic engineering has been with us for a short while already, but this is another order of magnitude (if it is confirmed, of course). A homemade chromosome is only the start. It will end with us modifying our own genome, and creating alternate ones of comparable complexity. The species will begin to design itself and other species, wresting control from nature. It won't be within our lifetime--or rather, it won't end in our lifetime. It's already started! And you guys make quips!

Uh oh...

[Jazzmoose]

I'm telling you, this is the beginning of developments both wonderful and awful. Genetic engineering has been with us for a short while already, but this is another order of magnitude (if it is confirmed, of course). A homemade chromosome is only the start. It will end with us modifying our own genome, and creating alternate ones of comparable complexity. The species will begin to design itself and other species, wresting control from nature. It won't be within our lifetime--or rather, it won't end in our lifetime. It's already started! And you guys make quips!

What else can we do?

[Alexander]

I'm telling you, this is the beginning of developments both wonderful and awful. Genetic engineering has been with us for a short while already, but this is another order of magnitude (if it is confirmed, of course). A homemade chromosome is only the start. It will end with us modifying our own genome, and creating alternate ones of comparable complexity. The species will begin to design itself and other species, wresting control from nature. It won't be within our lifetime--or rather, it won't end in our lifetime. It's already started! And you guys make quips!

I'm thinking about Prometheus stealing fire from the Gods. I'm thinking about Eve making Forbidden Fruit salad. I'm thinking about Rabbi Loew and his big clay friend. I'm thinking about Mary Shelley's ghost story. I'm thinking of Einstein, Marie Curie, and Robert Oppenheimer unleashing armageddon.

I'm thinking about a big sign that says, "Do NOT pass this point." Don't say we haven't been warned. There's a reason that so much of our mythology deals with forbidden knowledge and the consequences therein. Paradise Lost, indeed...

[porcy62]

I'm telling you, this is the beginning of developments both wonderful and awful. Genetic engineering has been with us for a short while already, but this is another order of magnitude (if it is confirmed, of course). A homemade chromosome is only the start. It will end with us modifying our own genome, and creating alternate ones of comparable complexity. The species will begin to design itself and other species, wresting control from nature. It won't be within our lifetime--or rather, it won't end in our lifetime. It's already started! And you guys make quips!

What else can we do?

Exactly. I don't see a chance, unless you add yourself at the huge wave of bigotery of religious ranting at science.

[porcy62]

I'm telling you, this is the beginning of developments both wonderful and awful. Genetic engineering has been with us for a short while already, but this is another order of magnitude (if it is confirmed, of course). A homemade chromosome is only the start. It will end with us modifying our own genome, and creating alternate ones of comparable complexity. The species will begin to design itself and other species, wresting control from nature. It won't be within our lifetime--or rather, it won't end in our lifetime. It's already started! And you guys make quips!

I'm thinking about Prometheus stealing fire from the Gods. I'm thinking about Eve making Forbidden Fruit salad. I'm thinking about Rabbi Loew and his big clay friend. I'm thinking about Mary Shelley's ghost story. I'm thinking of Einstein, Marie Curie, and Robert Oppenheimer unleashing armageddon.

I'm thinking about a big sign that says, "Do NOT pass this point." Don't say we haven't been warned. There's a reason that so much of our mythology deals with forbidden knowledge and the consequences therein. Paradise Lost, indeed...

Well put, but we are shaped to pass points. It remind me a book: Roy Lewis' The Evolution Man.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I'm telling you, this is the beginning of developments both wonderful and awful. Genetic engineering has been with us for a short while already, but this is another order of magnitude (if it is confirmed, of course). A homemade chromosome is only the start. It will end with us modifying our own genome, and creating alternate ones of comparable complexity. The species will begin to design itself and other species, wresting control from nature. It won't be within our lifetime--or rather, it won't end in our lifetime. It's already started! And you guys make quips!

I'm thinking about Prometheus stealing fire from the Gods. I'm thinking about Eve making Forbidden Fruit salad. I'm thinking about Rabbi Loew and his big clay friend. I'm thinking about Mary Shelley's ghost story. I'm thinking of Einstein, Marie Curie, and Robert Oppenheimer unleashing armageddon.

I'm thinking about a big sign that says, "Do NOT pass this point." Don't say we haven't been warned. There's a reason that so much of our mythology deals with forbidden knowledge and the consequences therein. Paradise Lost, indeed...

Well put, but we are shaped to pass points. It remind me a book: Roy Lewis' The Evolution Man.

Very true - both of you

But... As Porcy says...

MG

[MoGrubb]

Yep, now we'll have another playing field for irresponsible "sex," other than the bedroom.

[porcy62]

Yep, now we'll have another playing field for irresponsible "sex," other than the bedroom.

And I thought that the one and only irresponsible "sex" was that in the White House...