I can't believe we aren't seeing more about this in the press.
Scientists may create artificial life soon
by Deputy Dog 7 Replies latest jw friends
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Satanus
It won't surprise me if they eventually are able to do it.
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Gerard
The team now plans to implant the synthetic chromosome into an existing cell and if it succeeds ...
You don't see it on the news because that's a marching band with bells and wistles trailing a donkey. DNA is very easy to synthetize and piece together these days. Note that all they have created is a circular molecule (bacterial chromosome is a circular DNA molecule.) It does NOT even have a cell membrane nor has all the supporting machinery needed to support life functions.
The real name of this ROUTINE procedure is transfection, and it consists on introducing foreign DNA into a cell. It has been done for a couple of decades at least, with the purpose of hijacking the cell's machinery and tricking it into "translating" the foreign DNA sequence into protein and hopefuly, consistent DNA replicaion upon cell division. That is exactly what a virus does.
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Deputy Dog
Gerard
You don't see it on the news because that's a marching band with bells and wistles trailing a donkey.
I know what you mean. One article said, they were doing this "from scratch"!
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gaiagirl
Well, it IS a step in the right direction. Virus are near the boundary of what most people consider to be "alive". They don't have the ability to reproduce themselves, but the DO reproduce, using other cells which do have the ability. I'll make a prediction here: Genuine, self-replicating, metabolizing artificial life will be demonstrated (i.e. during the 21st century) before any Biblical Armageddon initiated by some angry sky-deity arrives (i.e. NEVER).
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Deputy Dog
gg
I'll make a prediction here: Genuine, self-replicating, metabolizing artificial life will be demonstrated (i.e. during the 21st century) before any Biblical Armageddon initiated by some angry sky-deity arrives (i.e. NEVER).
That's not the same as ceating it from nothing. We both know that will "NEVER" happen.
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ninja
britain has already created artificial life.......its called the jeremy kyle show
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Paralipomenon
I think mankind is due for a genetic age. Yes, there are many ethical issues about genetic enhancements, but the potential benefits will win out eventually.
Initially I think they will make genetic enhancements to correct flaws, then it will be preemptive adjustments then we will start augmenting ourselves. Most likely cosmetic changes first, then enhancements.
With more manual jobs taken by automation and the increase in robotics and AI, I see humans moving to more office or desk jobs. Might as well adjust our metabolisms genetically to adjust for a more sedentary lifestyle.
Personally I am not against genetic manipulation at all. I think that once we unlock our genome completely and start experimenting we may just end up immortal. Not in my lifetime or anywhere close. But it is an exciting prospect.