Scientists create artificial life!

[Midnyte_Sun]

'Artificial life' breakthrough announced by scientists

The researchers constructed a bacterium's "genetic software" and transplanted it into a host cell. The resulting microbe then looked and behaved like the species "dictated" by the synthetic DNA.

Original article here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10132762.stm

 

[terry78]

 

[Carcharodon]

What concerns me is the fact that they're talking about applications that would involve the release of engineered "synthetic" organisms into the environment (I put that word in quotation marks because only the genome is synthetic...not the cell and its machinery), like cleaning up oil spills. They'd better get to work programming kill-switches to induce cell death without harming neighboring or even relatively nearby organisms...you know, if they haven't already. I mean so long as it's contained it's a non-issue.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

I'm not sure if any of you have read "Fantastic Voyage" by Ray Kurzweil, but a lot of these breakthroughs were predicted by him to be possible before the end of our lifetimes.

Kill switches are already in the works. They have in mind using this technology to treat internal wounds, kill cancer, even make our own metabolic system more efficent.

 

[Gilpesh]

Damn. Wish I was there. They probably needed someone to run in the room after they did it to yell, "OH MY GOD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!?!?!?! YOU FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[Carcharodon]

So how do they account for evolution? That's another question I have about this whole breakthrough and its applications. We have to assume that, unless they have a way of reliably inhibiting mutation (and bacterial transformation), the potential is there for unintended changes in the "synthetic" populations.

It's actually not all that interesting that they're able to do this given all we've learned up until this point. What is incredibly interesting to me is how they could possibly hope to control and contain the evolution of these organisms once they're put into the environment. Kill switches may only be so effective and may only partially address these questions...

Still cool though.

 

[Danalys]

fiction writers often rely on predictions of scientists, or they can dream up something convenient that some day someone may find a way to make.

the general fail safe for these kinds of things (there were virus precursors.) is to duplicate something that can only live in specific conditions they can set up in a lab. those things going into the environment outside the lab is like us escaping somewhere by swimming across an acid moat.

the possible applications are so numerous that they can't even all be imagined yet. between this and nanotech any form of restructuring above a certain size becomes possible.

 

[Danalys]

So how do they account for evolution? That's another question I have about this whole breakthrough and its applications. We have to assume that, unless they have a way of reliably inhibiting mutation (and bacterial transformation), the potential is there for unintended changes in the "synthetic" populations.

It's actually not all that interesting that they're able to do this given all we've learned up until this point. What is incredibly interesting to me is how they could possibly hope to control and contain the evolution of these organisms once they're put into the environment. Kill switches may only be so effective and may only partially address these questions...

Still cool though.

http://www.ted.com/talks/craig_venter_is_on_the_verge_of_creating_synthetic_life.html

this video is him discussing their game plan before the achievement. he talks about a possible new cambrian explosion so he's taking evolution into account.

 

[Figs]

So how do they account for evolution? That's another question I have about this whole breakthrough and its applications. We have to assume that, unless they have a way of reliably inhibiting mutation (and bacterial transformation), the potential is there for unintended changes in the "synthetic" populations.

It's actually not all that interesting that they're able to do this given all we've learned up until this point. What is incredibly interesting to me is how they could possibly hope to control and contain the evolution of these organisms once they're put into the environment. Kill switches may only be so effective and may only partially address these questions...

Still cool though.

That's what worries me. Although it's a pretty cool breakthrough, hopefully they know how to control it properly.

 

[Metamorpho1977]

Releasing artificial organisms into the wild called "Kill Switches" not my idea of smart.

 

[Carcharodon]

http://www.ted.com/talks/craig_venter_is_on_the_verge_of_creating_synthetic_life.html

this video is him discussing their game plan before the achievement. he talks about a possible new cambrian explosion so he's taking evolution into account.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

Basically they have to rig the game so that their "kill switch" will be effective in the face of all potential mutations...I'd love to see whether there's a plan for that.

Releasing artificial organisms into the wild called "Kill Switches" not my idea of smart.

I think you misunderstand: the organisms aren't called Kill Switches. A "kill switch" is a means by which scientists could effectively target and destroy these organisms at command, in this case by programming the genome accordingly.

 

[Metamorpho1977]

Watch that movie with Mira Sorvino again. Mimic. I can see where this is headed.

 

[B]

These scientists should watch more TV, movies & play more video games, why can't they understand that creating artificial life, giant robots for war etc never ends well...

 

[Metamorpho1977]

You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

 

[KevanG]

So what's the betting at for 1) Zombie apocalypse 2) Nanovirus invasion 3) Borg?

 

[Colossal Spoons]

I think you misunderstand: the organisms aren't called Kill Switches. A "kill switch" is a means by which scientists could effectively target and destroy these organisms at command, in this case by programming the genome accordingly.

This is easy enough. They can make them susceptible to drastic pH changes, salt, temperature, anything really. I'm all for this

 

[Maximum Carnage]

This .. is crazy. O_O;

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

That's what worries me. Although it's a pretty cool breakthrough, hopefully they know how to control it properly.

Since this is being developed in the United States and not say, South Korea, the chances of regulations being developed is already granted. Soon we will hear the moral dilemma of creating life, the practical and weapons-grade applications of this breakthrough, and maybe many years down the road, creating artificial intelligent life.

 

[Danalys]

they had to pass ethical reviews that went all the way up to the white house before they even started experimenting.

 

[Bill]

I, for one, will welcome our new microscopic masters.

 

[Danalys]

overlords.

ironic considering your sig.

 

[FaT_tONle]

From what I've heard about Venter, he's a nut and an ego driven maniac. But he's been an entrepreneur in the field and has made significant contributions. Genetic engineering is logically the next step. As we map and sequence the millions of genomes in found in nature, there are endless permutations to what can be harnessed and engineered into viable organisms. Humans will literally dictate evolution in almost every fashion they desire.

 

[Danalys]

if you do what he's done mapping the human genome, synthesising a genome that works like the natural equivalent then having a bit of an ego is understandable. but watching him talk in the vid i posted earlier he's down to earth enough for my liking.

 

[Majic Walrus]

'Artificial life' breakthrough announced by Dr. Moreau.

The researchers constructed a bacterium's "genetic software" and transplanted it into a host cell. The resulting microbe then looked and behaved like the species "dictated" by the synthetic DNA.

Original article here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10132762.stm

Fix'd.

 

[Figs]

Since this is being developed in the United States and not say, South Korea, the chances of regulations being developed is already granted. Soon we will hear the moral dilemma of creating life, the practical and weapons-grade applications of this breakthrough, and maybe many years down the road, creating artificial intelligent life.

When I mentioned, hopefully they can control it properly, I meant in regards to what Carcharodon said about it evolving if it doesn't have a proper half-life or kill switch involved. Not so much about it getting into the wrong hands.