Dr. Craig Venter and scientists create a synthetic form of life
@jupitercrashing (635)
Canada
July 20, 2010 11:57am CST
The team, based in the Venter Institute in the US, has created a new chromosome from artificial DNA. Of course, in the words of bioethicist Art Caplan, 'it would seem to extinguish the argument that life requires a special force or power to exist.'
I personally find this very exciting and cannot wait to see the amazing things that come of this. New vaccines, new energy sources, and the ability to deal with pollution could all be possible. Although it may not happen in my lifetime, I am pleased to know the potential is there.
Read the article here: tinyurl.com/22oy5c4
1 person likes this
4 responses
@consultrainer (4991)
• India
20 Jul 10
while this is to be highly appreciated.. i would cautiously recommend you to browse the history of mankind.. and, the discovery/invention of various breakthroughs. Like the DYNAMITE .. the NUCLEAR FUSION/FISSION material, etc ..
so, GOD save the mankind from destruction that could be caused, if LIFE could be made in a laboratory.
@jupitercrashing (635)
• Canada
20 Jul 10
I recommend you check out the article, which addresses this argument ;)
"Throughout human history, any beneficial discovery came with risks. The nervous nellies are already coming out ... fearful of the unknown and preferring to stifle progress. Certainly we understand that safeguards must be in place to protect us from misuse. The potential for using this kind of research to make powerful bioweapons is a concern and must be discussed and debated, but you can't stop progress - and why would you?"
Also, "[Venter] assures them, 'there's a big gap bewtween science fiction and what your imagination can do and the reality in research labs.'"
@consultrainer (4991)
• India
20 Jul 10
lols. nervous nillies.. thanks for the comment...
but, I am just quoting from HISTORY..
is there any such invention or discovery, which is not patented, and left to the common public to get the advantages? ..
thanks.
@jupitercrashing (635)
• Canada
20 Jul 10
Ah, that was not my comment. It was from the article, hence the use of quotation marks and the intro explaining the article addressed what you had said.
As for the rest of what you said, I don't understand what you are asking.
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
21 Jul 10
From what I understand they took a pre-existing species of bacteria, extracted it's DNA, and injected a synthetically formed DNA in it's place. That's not creating life, it's swapping DNA. If successful, the bacteria may function differently, but it was still living to begin with.
Let us not forget as well that it took a sentient life form to accomplish such a feat, so this doesn't defeat the creationist belief that we were created by a higher being. In fact, this will probably just encourage them. They will use it as evidence that life was created.
It's an interesting step forward in genetic engineering, mind you, but it's not the "man created life" situation that the link makes it out to be.
@artizan (195)
•
30 Jul 10
oh no still not there yet., so no extinguishers.. as the comment previously, swapping dna/rna is kinda cheating and not creating life., although a major break through and they should be congratulated on the engineering skills....these are exciting times indeed., but do wish they wouldnt mess with bacteria/virus there are billions of cells to choose from so choose a less threatening one., dont need bacteria to get fiesty and do their own thing...
best wishes
x
@nicolecheezy (177)
• Philippines
11 Aug 10
thats cool.im so interested on knowing what that life form is.if it will be formed into a complex animal of some sort.its in its early stage though.i hope their technology will mature soon.maybe it will heal all disease and makes us live longer.
