Scientists created world's first synthetic life form

[Ziggy]

Scientists created world's first synthetic life form

Scientists have created the world's first synthetic life form in a landmark experiment that paves the way for designer organisms that are built rather than evolved.

The controversial feat, which has occupied 20 scientists for more than 10 years at an estimated cost of $40m, was described by one researcher as "a defining moment in biology".

Craig Venter, the pioneering US geneticist behind the experiment, said the achievement heralds the dawn of a new era in which new life is made to benefit humanity, starting with bacteria that churn out biofuels, soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and even manufacture vaccines.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/ ... -life-form

[Bubbles]

greeeaaaaat.... right after the movie "Splice" comes out. i see where this is going.

[(weedguru)scarf]

good and bad...

and someone better not use the phrase "playing god"

[Bubbles]

good and bad...

and someone better not use the phrase "playing god"

lol its good aslong as the movie "splice" or the movie "The Andromeda Strain" dont become reality.

[pkkupo]

I'm still skeptical as to the process...

[WeedGuru_Flow]

I'm infatuated by it, think of all the medical benefits, cures for cancers etc. If you join this along with advancements in nanotechnology (for delivering medicine inside the bloodstream/body) science will truly be able to eradicate diseases that have been plaguing us for eons.

[Bubbles]

I'm infatuated by it, think of all the medical benefits, cures for cancers etc. If you join this along with advancements in nanotechnology (for delivering medicine inside the bloodstream/body) science will truly be able to eradicate diseases that have been plaguing us for eons.

have you ever seen the mini series or read the book "The Andromeda Strain"?

could you imagine if they tried making something screwed up and it grew so fast that humans couldnt stop it due to its ability to change because its synthetic?

a bacteria immune to everything including freezing or burning temperatures.

[WeedGuru_Flow]

I know the name Andromeda Strain, haven't read the books or seen anything about it though.

But personally I think it's worth the risk, either we start solving our petty problems and try to make advances in medical technology and by that make human life longer and more productive or we end up killing each other over resources...

[Regarded]

I support everyone living longer...but productiveness is subjective I think. I do not wish to see people living longer and therefore working in the same old shitty job forever.

[Certified-Nutter]

hmmm....
all i can say is its about time
i dno what this andromeda strain is, sounds sci-fi
there are loads of things that mutate frequently to cause us harm, the most known of all is flu or milleria, so the idea of it mutating doesnt scare me much, its not an easy process....
the process of mutating can just as easily make it completely inept against humans as it can make something deadly.

as someone interested and slightly educated in biology i am really excited about this, the possibilities are so wide i cant focus on what bit i am most anxious to see first

damn i remember in uni, going thru endless DNA and RNA sequences of different species.... fuck man it wasnt even funny.... fuck to make a whole one from scratch is amazing,
it also means we now have a good control test for measuring other gene sequences, their function and behaviour... pfft i wish i hadnt quit biology now lol