Synthetic Life Breakthrough Expected Within Decade

[Nehkara]

Synthetic life breakthrough expected within decade, scientists say

'We're talking about a technology that could change our world in pretty fundamental ways — in fact, in ways that are impossible to predict.'—ProtoLife COO Mark Bedau

Experts expect an announcement in three to 10 years from someone in the now little-known field of "wet artificial life."

And several scientists believe man-made life forms will one day offer the potential for solving a variety of problems, from fighting diseases, to locking up greenhouse gases, to eating toxic waste.

This is a very interesting branch of science, I find it fascinating. It is great that they are making progress.

[Ford Prefect]

It's fascinating, but the unexpected side effects make me a bit leery. Such side effects often take the form of collateral damage.

[Hack&Lube]

I for one welcome our wet artificial overlords?

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Sweet. My prediction of bionetically engineered AI battle pets are becoming a reality.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

Sweet. My prediction of bionetically engineered AI battle pets are becoming a reality.

Seems like you and Micheal Vick share similar passions

[Muta]

Cyberdyne Systems must be stopped. The AI component of this project will force the experiment prototypes to learn at an exponential rate and soon humans will be helpless.

Our last hope for the survival of mankind lies in the hands of the Governator of California. Only he can save us now.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Seems like you and Micheal Vick share similar passions

His dogs are no match for my bio-laser pokemon turtle/chimp hybred.

[Mike F]

As with all new technologies, I eagerly wait to see how the porn industry takes advantage of this.

[troutman]

Soylent Green is People! It's People!

[lifer]

Originally Posted by Muta

Cyberdyne Systems must be stopped. The AI component of this project will force the experiment prototypes to learn at an exponential rate and soon humans will be helpless.

Our last hope for the survival of mankind lies in the hands of the Governator of California. Only he can save us now.

I can't believe that it took so many posts to get a Terminator reference in this thread.

[Juventus3]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

It's fascinating, but the unexpected side effects make me a bit leery. Such side effects often take the form of collateral damage.

But Guys!...


A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

[J pold]

[Flashpoint]

We are so F'ing dead.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Yep, stuff like this makes me nervous, it's almost like we are trying to make ourselves obsolete.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Yep, stuff like this makes me nervous, it's almost like we are trying to make ourselves obsolete.

I am less concerned about the research itself, and more the fact that once corporate interests get involved the "new life" will become proprietary instead of peer reviewed.

I recall reading about an Alberta farmer getting sued by a company that made genetically modified wheat. The seeds were blowing over the highway and taking over his fields because his native crops couldn't compete. So they decided he was stealing!

I'd much prefer massive public discussion anytime we are talking about introducing new species to our environment. Not secretive protection in the name of profits.

[Cliche]

Six! Seven! Go to Hell or go to Heaven!


or


Is this to be an empathy test? Capillary dilation of the so-called blush response? Fluctuation of the pupil. Involuntary dilation of the iris...

We call it the Voight-Kampff for short.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by Cliche

Six! Seven! Go to Hell or go to Heaven!


or


Is this to be an empathy test? Capillary dilation of the so-called blush response? Fluctuation of the pupil. Involuntary dilation of the iris...

We call it the Voight-Kampff for short.

Nice!

[Save Us Sutter]

Originally Posted by Cliche

Is this to be an empathy test? Capillary dilation of the so-called blush response? Fluctuation of the pupil. Involuntary dilation of the iris...

We call it the Voight-Kampff for short.

This is exactly what I thought when I first started reading this. Though I believe in Phillip K. Dick's novel they are robots aren't they? Not organically based? It's been a while since I read that one.

[jammies]

I fail to see the applicability of this research to macro-world problem-solving; it would be far easier to modify existing bacteria to, for example, "eat toxic waste" as is mentioned in the article. If they are basing these creations on DNA, as it says they are, then taking lifeforms already in existence and just editing their DNA (as is already being done) can get you to the same place as building new critters from the ground up, without all the associated problems with creating your own cell membrane and the like.

However, as basic research this sounds very useful - creating life using DNA could lead to creating non-DNA based, entirely alien life after the principles are understood. That sounds like something that actually opens up new possibilities for biotechnology that we can't even conceive of today.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by jammies

I fail to see the applicability of this research to macro-world problem-solving; it would be far easier to modify existing bacteria to, for example, "eat toxic waste" as is mentioned in the article. If they are basing these creations on DNA, as it says they are, then taking lifeforms already in existence and just editing their DNA (as is already being done) can get you to the same place as building new critters from the ground up, without all the associated problems with creating your own cell membrane and the like.

However, as basic research this sounds very useful - creating life using DNA could lead to creating non-DNA based, entirely alien life after the principles are understood. That sounds like something that actually opens up new possibilities for biotechnology that we can't even conceive of today.

I think you missed a part of the article:

In Gainesville, Fla., Steve Benner, a biological chemist at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, is attacking that problem by going outside natural genetics. Normal DNA consists of four bases — adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine (known as A,C,G,T) — molecules that spell out the genetic code in pairs. Benner is trying to add eight new bases to the genetic alphabet.

That is not just editing DNA, that is creating something completely new and different.