American scientists successful in creating artificial life!

Yax

Yax

Ancient Mariner
So, American scientists have now finally done it. They have created life. Yes, created, manufactured, made, forged etc etc. They managed to create a cell which in turn reproduced (split in two). Artificial life. This new cell is some sort of bacteria, very simple. How did it all go down then? Well. They created the DNA code in the computer and then somehow transferred it to a host cell.

This shit is big indeed. Bible thumpers will no doubt make their voices be heard (that is, if it gets enough media attention) because this will in their eyes be an abomination of a degree never seen before. I mean, Juadism and Christianity etc clearly states (I think? Haven't read the bible or torah except drafts) that the only one entitled to create and take life is God.

So what do you guys think? I mean, a big damn line has been crossed now. I'm quite torn, because while this is a scientific revolution which may very well give us the answer to a lot of questions, like help us understand and treat cancer better etc it has the potential to turn into something nasty; I mean, I'm not 100% if this is a road we should walk. First this and what next? I'm by no means a person of faith but while this new achievement excites me very much it also makes me a bit uncomfortable for obvious reasons.

Disclaimer: Or well, it's not artificial per se, but a question of advanced gene manipulation where you alter the genome. Still, it is kinda artificial.
 
In the wrong hands, this kind of technology might easily be used to make biological weapons, I'm afraid, but at the same time - who knows what consequences this might have in the area of medicine? That's what science is about. One seeks to broaden knowledge, either out of curiosity or because one wants to achieve something. Once one succeeds, one just has to take the good with the bad.

I'll surely read up on this sometime during the weekend.
 
Isn't this old news? "Life" has been reproduced artificially in labs for decades. Or is the breakthrough is that in this case it's from scratch? Either way it's a big, "meh" in my book.
 
Onhell said:
Isn't this old news? "Life" has been reproduced artificially in labs for decades. Or is the breakthrough is that in this case it's from scratch? Either way it's a big, "meh" in my book.
Click to expand...
yeah, this was pretty much created from scratch, using only chemicals.
 
Shadow said:
I'd say the entire cell would have to be created before we can talk about true artificial life.
Click to expand...

Why?

The chemical makeup of cells is monstrously complex. Why not use the raw materials that can be found in nature? Do the scientists have to cook up their own amino acids from pure elements? It took millions of years of evolution for the first cell to come together; are you insisting that it's only "artificial" if humans start from zero, like evolution did?

There's no need to re-invent the wheel. Evolution did that for us, in this case. It is sufficient to (as in this case) drop in a new engine, which will do the rest. It's as fresh as any new life gets - human embryos start with the raw materials from sperm and egg, after all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top