Mokong Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 I'm surprised nobody else made a thread on this yet. I assume you've heard by now of the Artificial Bacterial Life created by scientists using synthetic genes. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100520/sc_nm/us_genes_synthetic of course the Church isn't happy man is "playing god" http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100520/sc_nm/us_genes_synthetic What do ye think of it... good idea, bad idea? Of course there's a number of positives that it be used for such as mentioned in the 1st article to create new fuels (hopefully cheaper too) or to help remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere. But also potential for danger is ever present such as use for a biological weapon. Or even if while using it for something good like curing cancer they make a mistake and create a plague instead. Or what if this lifeform were to start evolving? To quote Jurrasic Park, "Life find a way" My prediction for possible bad outcomes Plauge ala I Am Legend or T-Virus Cylon Skin Jobs before Cylon Centurions... else we soon create Centurions who in turn use this new Artificial Lifeform to help them create skinjobs
Happenstance Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 I'll pretty much always be in favour of science moving forward and this is a massive step. Yeah im sure there will be things that could go wrong but thats been the case with nearly all discoveries. Anyway, I look forward to working under our new synthetic masters. May they rule for millenia to come.
Supergrunch Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 Craig Venter is a bit annoying really, but this is quite cool. It was right on the horizon anyway, so let's hope for some fun applications of xenobiology.
Cube Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 I disagree with the term artificial life. I see Artificial Life more as a aim for computer programming - creating a computer that can think with emotions like we do. Synthetic Life is the biological term for this. Not that it massively matters, it's still an incredible feat.
Shino Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 I see Artificial Life more as a aim for computer programming - creating a computer that can think with emotions like we do. Synthetic Life is the biological term for this. Not that it massively matters, it's still an incredible feat. Agreed on all accounts.
Paj! Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 Looks like they were trying to clone Björk. (It actually does a bit)
Recommended Posts