Scientist Creates Synthetic Life In Lab

[Holdfast]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100520/twl-scientist-creates-synthetic-life-in-3fd0ae9.html

Big news, sure. But I can't help being reminded of that Red Dwarf gag about Lister discovering new, previously unknown, lifeforms regularly growing in his laundry hamper.

Now we can create new life from yeast cells, I suggest our next target is to create the Pillsbury Doughboy.

 

[thumbtack]

It looks like he altered existing life, rather than "creating" anything.





.

 

[Lindley]

It would be more accurate, based on my reading, to say that they caused an existing cell to become a synthetic species.

 

[Ward Fowler]

It looks like he altered existing life, rather than "creating" anything.

That's technically true, but considering DNA is the basis of life and he created synthetic DNA that overrode the DNA of a living cell, it's just a matter of time before the headline is completely true. It's a huge leap in science.

 

[Goliath]

"And Man said: 'Let the laboratories produce living creatures according to their kinds.' And it was so."

 

[Holdfast]

So, onto the important stuff... when can we Genesis Device the Moon? Enquiring minds wish to know. And place a downpayment on a beachfront pad on the Sea of Tranquility.

 

[Goliath]

Dear Lord, Holdfast, do you suppose we're intelligent enough to.... Suppose... what if this process were used where life already existed?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

So, onto the important stuff... when can we Genesis Device the Moon?

Hmmm... one step closer to whaling on the Moon?

"From Hell's Heart, I *stab* at thee!"

 

[Holdfast]

Dear Lord, Holdfast, do you suppose we're intelligent enough to.... Suppose... what if this process were used where life already existed?

It would destroy such life in favour of... wait, I think I've found a solution to the current population crisis.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

God schmodd, I want my monkey man!

 

[iguana_tonante]

Allow me do this:

*clear voice*

From that fateful day when stinking bits of slime first crawled from the sea and shouted to the cold stars, "I am man!," our greatest dread has always been the knowledge of our mortality. But tonight, we shall hurl the gauntlet of science into the frightful face of death itself. Tonight, we shall ascend into the heavens. We shall mock the earthquake. We shall command the thunders, and penetrate into the very womb of impervious nature herself!

IT! CAN! WORK!

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Need we be reminded of the horrors that await us with artificially-created life...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH2nQHPs4aA

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Need we be reminded of the horrors that await us with artificially-created life...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH2nQHPs4aA

I was expecting Cylons.

 

[Lonemagpie]

I for one welcome our new Cylon skin-job overlords...

Or, (given the description of nanoprobes, er, I mean, synthetic DNA that overwrites natural DNA) maybe that's our new Borg overlords.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, it's not really creating synthetic life, but creating an artificial chromosome is fantastic.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Interesting! I imagine this could have useful applications...however, we do need to be careful given that anything we release into the environment can evolve. And of course, graduating to more advanced life forms should also be viewed with great caution given the possibility that we would be creating a creature just for it to suffer, or to inflict suffering on others.

 

[Goliath]

And of course, graduating to more advanced life forms should also be viewed with great caution given the possibility that we would be creating a creature just for it to suffer, or to inflict suffering on others.

Yes. In that case, we might have to drown them all, and start over.

 

[M'Sharak]

And of course, graduating to more advanced life forms should also be viewed with great caution given the possibility that we would be creating a creature just for it to suffer, or to inflict suffering on others.

Yes. In that case, we might have to drown them all, and start over.

Noah: Riiiiiight!

 

[Goliath]

And of course, graduating to more advanced life forms should also be viewed with great caution given the possibility that we would be creating a creature just for it to suffer, or to inflict suffering on others.

Yes. In that case, we might have to drown them all, and start over.

Noah: Riiiiiight!

I haven't heard that routine in years.

"Who is this, really?"

 

[MetalPants]

So, onto the important stuff... when can we Genesis Device the Moon? Enquiring minds wish to know. And place a downpayment on a beachfront pad on the Sea of Tranquility.

I have ridden the mighty Moon Worm.