It's Alive!

[Hardbopjazz]

Playing God.

A team of biologists and chemists is closing in on bringing non-living matter to life.

It's not as Frankensteinian as it sounds. Instead, a lab led by Jack Szostak, a molecular biologist at Harvard Medical School, is building simple cell models that can almost be called life.

Szostak's protocells are built from fatty molecules that can trap bits of nucleic acids that contain the source code for replication. Combined with a process that harnesses external energy from the sun or chemical reactions, they could form a self-replicating, evolving system that satisfies the conditions of life, but isn't anything like life on earth now, but might represent life as it began or could exist elsewhere in the universe.

Full article.

[BruceH]

Oh no!! It's The Outer Limits! Run for your lives!!!

[mikelz777]

Playing God.

A team of biologists and chemists is closing in on bringing non-living matter to life.

It's not as Frankensteinian as it sounds. Instead, a lab led by Jack Szostak, a molecular biologist at Harvard Medical School, is building simple cell models that can almost be called life.

Szostak's protocells are built from fatty molecules that can trap bits of nucleic acids that contain the source code for replication. Combined with a process that harnesses external energy from the sun or chemical reactions, they could form a self-replicating, evolving system that satisfies the conditions of life, but isn't anything like life on earth now, but might represent life as it began or could exist elsewhere in the universe.

Unless they use the same definition of life that abortion supporters (Or should I say, "pro-choicers"?) use to salve their consciouses that they are not committing murder. Ironic huh? The definition conveniently changes depending on the want or need.

Interesting report. There seem to be a lot of qualifiers in there.

Edited September 9, 2008 by mikelz777