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Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 10:00 pm
by Skul
A US biologist claims to have created the first man-made cell in one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs of the past two decades.
Dr Craig Venter said his researchers had built a DNA strand from scratch and inserted it into a simple bacterium, creating so-called synthetic life.
Applications of the study include the production of medicines and biofuels, and could even help in the absorption of greenhouse gases.
A report published in the Science journal details how the team effectively stimulated a yeast cell into taking on a new life.
Scientists at first made short strands of DNA and then put them together to form a chromosome, which was then inserted into the yeast cell, replacing its native DNA.
They found the cell took on the appearance and behaviour of the transplanted chromosome, generating different proteins and multiplying.
"This is the first synthetic cell that's been made, and we call it synthetic because the cell is totally derived from a synthetic chromosome," Dr Venter said.
"This is an important step we think, both scientifically and philosophically.
"It's certainly changed my views of the definitions of life and how life works."
Sky's health correspondent Thomas Moore said the scientists have created a form of life never before seen on the planet.
"Other groups are working on it around the world, but [Dr Venter's] the first to have done this," Moore said.
"He's the man who has opened up a new chapter, where we are not just looking at life that has evolved - but life that is created in a laboratory."
Ethicist Dr Tom Douglas told Sky News the research opened up a number of dilemmas.
"Some will worry about the idea that this involves a problematic form of playing God," he said.
"Some will worry that this is undermining the distinction of living beings and machines.
"I think the greatest issue posed by this research is not really anything to do with the fact that it's artificial life as such, it's got to do with the potential for this kind of research to be misused to create pathogens that could be used in biological weapons."
Dr Venter, who runs the J. Craig Venter Institute in Maryland, came to fame when he challenged publicly-funded scientists working on the Human Genome Project - the first attempt to produce a complete map of the human genetic code.
He set out to construct his own private version of the human genome, using a different "short cut" method.
While his team succeeded, the race ended in a dead heat when both versions were published simultaneously in Science in 2001.
Source: Yahoo!
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 10:11 pm
by Fat Man
Oh damn!
You beat me to it!
I just got some news in my E-mail from a BBC Newsletter about this, and I was going to post it myself.
Well, you beat me.
Now, I wonder if scientists will be able to create new brain cells for jocks and sports fans.
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 12:14 am
by HugeFanOfBadReligion
Yeah, I heard about this. This is amazing scientific progress, and I feel that every day an amazing new breakthrough occurs. In fact, not too long ago, mathematicians (in Pennsylvania I think?) solved the Boltzmann equation after 140 years of scrutiny, a feat that couldn't even be completed by supercomputers. I'm hoping that these amazing breakthroughs continue in my lifetime and beyond.
Although, has anyone ever watched a sci-fi film? Eventually, they're going to create some crazy synthetic life form that is capable of killing everyone and everything and it will escape from it's holding cell, and we'll see what happens after that...
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 1:53 pm
by Agent 47
Fat Man wrote:
Now, I wonder if scientists will be able to create new brain cells for jocks and sports fans.
Ha ha ha! That is freakin' hilarious!!!
Hey, just imagine, if this guy did actually come up with a brain cell transplant therapy for jocks and sports fans - the market for that would be enormous, wouldn't it?!!! Ha ha ha!!!
But maybe he actually will, and in case he actually does - invest in this guy's company - the market for that would be huge!
Buy! Buy! Buy!
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 2:08 pm
by Indurrago
HugeFanOfBadReligion wrote:Yeah, I heard about this. This is amazing scientific progress, and I feel that every day an amazing new breakthrough occurs. In fact, not too long ago, mathematicians (in Pennsylvania I think?) solved the Boltzmann equation after 140 years of scrutiny, a feat that couldn't even be completed by supercomputers. I'm hoping that these amazing breakthroughs continue in my lifetime and beyond.
Although, has anyone ever watched a sci-fi film? Eventually, they're going to create some crazy synthetic life form that is capable of killing everyone and everything and it will escape from it's holding cell, and we'll see what happens after that...
That is impressive, I know there's a meme that describes the progress of technology(specifically computer tech) but I forget the name. I wonder what will kill us first; synthetic life forms or independent robots. XD A war between the two would make a good chessy Sci-fi Movie.
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 6:09 pm
by i_like_1981
Don't worry yourselves, nothing's going to happen. I know too well what the world's like today. Great breakthroughs like this are big news for a day and the next day... the paper has nothing to say about them and we're back to the usual celebrity idiots and their "riveting" lives. I should be most interested to hear more about where this discovery will take us but we can't ask so much from the tabloids today, can we?
Best regards,
i_like_1981
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 9:52 pm
by Fat Man
i_like_1981 wrote:Don't worry yourselves, nothing's going to happen. I know too well what the world's like today. Great breakthroughs like this are big news for a day and the next day... the paper has nothing to say about them and we're back to the usual celebrity idiots and their "riveting" lives. I should be most interested to hear more about where this discovery will take us but we can't ask so much from the tabloids today, can we?
Best regards,
i_like_1981
Oh, I sure the tabloids will cover this story again, saying that a large green blob of protoplasm escaped from the lab and people should be on the lookout. This will be put on the same page along with a UFO alien ate my laundry and I saw Elvis in a UFO.
Yeah! I'm sure the tabloids will make up something about it.
I have read another article somewhere that the Catholic Church is concerned that scientists are playing God, yeah, well, I say poop on the Pope!
Interestingly enough, the Catholic Church does accept Darwin's Theory of Evolution. I guess The Church learned it's lessons after the mistakes it made with Galileo.
Yeah! Well, the Church is against birth control and against an AIDS vaccine, so it's still no friend to science.
I don't need to hear any more poop from the Pope!
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 9:12 am
by James
i was also reading about ths story in the news papers. i like the way they have managed to create new life but a t the same time it mAdden's me to know that like 1981 says theyre just going to endup forgettan to write about thisi n the papers and just return to the celebrityrelated bullsiht. seeiriously, like whats the point? they gotta be JESTing.
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
by Agent 47
There is now a video available of an interview about this with Dr. Craig Venter that aired on last weeks episode of "Catalyst" -
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2911286.htm
Unfortunately, the interview was recorded shortly before the actual announcement of the successful creation of synthetic life. But he talks about all that stuff though. It's worth a look. Amazing stuff indeed.
And check this out -
They coded a watermark into the DNA!
That's like in that movie Blade Runner!
Well that's something else that's no longer science fiction now, either.
Then this -
They coded some classic literature into the DNA as well!
Holy molecular riddle Batman!
But wait - it gets even more mindblowing -
Singularity Hub wrote:
http://singularityhub.com/2010/05/24/ve ... n-its-dna/
Secret Messages Coded Into DNA Of Venter Synthetic Bacteria
To verify that they had synthesized a new organism and not assembled the DNA from another natural bacteria, scientists encoded a series of â??watermarksâ?? into the genes of M. mycoides JCVI-syn1.0. There are four of these hidden messages: an explanation of the coding system used, a URL address for those who crack the code to go visit, a list of 46 authors and contributors, and a series of famous quotes. The presence of these watermarks verifies that M. mycoides JCVI-syn1.0 truly is synthetic and demonstrates the precision and power of JCVIâ??s new techniques in synthetic biology.
Really puts the inane blatherings of sports fans into perspective, doesn't it?
P.S. - This is my 100th post!
Surely that's a record for the longest time anyone has ever taken to get to 100 posts? (approx 2.6 years)?!!
At this rate of posting, my 1,000th post will be in the year 2036!
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 2:57 pm
by Earl
Fat Man wrote:I have read another article somewhere that the Catholic Church is concerned that scientists are playing God, yeah, well, I say poop on the Pope!
Interestingly enough, the Catholic Church does accept Darwin's Theory of Evolution. I guess The Church learned it's lessons after the mistakes it made with Galileo.
Yeah! Well, the Church is against birth control and against an AIDS vaccine, so it's still no friend to science.
I don't need to hear any more poop from the Pope!
Perhaps I shouldn't have done this, but I have copied and pasted the following objection from the Guestbook. I did have mixed feelings about doing this, but I felt that I had to do it in the interests of fairness. And I may regret doing it, too. I did this out of consideration to Catholic readers, not because I think Nick deserves any consideration.
In the synthetic life topic. First he lied and said the church opposed the synthetic life (they released a statement in favor of it) then he shared his fantasy of defacating on the pope. Gross.
Nick
- Friday, June 04, 2010 at 12:36:42 (MET)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where did he insult Catholicism?
Earl
- Friday, June 04, 2010 at 04:39:26 (MET)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You guys really need to reign Fat Man in. I just noticed him insultibg catholicism. That's really offensive. For someone who is so against bullying, he seems fond of it.
As the Channer said, you're all just. Like. Us.
Kthxbai
Nick
- Friday, June 04, 2010 at 04:21:34 (MET)
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:52 pm
by Fat Man
Earl wrote:Fat Man wrote:I have read another article somewhere that the Catholic Church is concerned that scientists are playing God, yeah, well, I say poop on the Pope!
Interestingly enough, the Catholic Church does accept Darwin's Theory of Evolution. I guess The Church learned it's lessons after the mistakes it made with Galileo.
Yeah! Well, the Church is against birth control and against an AIDS vaccine, so it's still no friend to science.
I don't need to hear any more poop from the Pope!
Perhaps I shouldn't have done this, but I have copied and pasted the following objection from the Guestbook. I did have mixed feelings about doing this, but I felt that I had to do it in the interests of fairness. And I may regret doing it, too. I did this out of consideration to Catholic readers, not because I think Nick deserves any consideration.
In the synthetic life topic. First he lied and said the church opposed the synthetic life (they released a statement in favor of it) then he shared his fantasy of defacating on the pope. Gross.
Nick
- Friday, June 04, 2010 at 12:36:42 (MET)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where did he insult Catholicism?
Earl
- Friday, June 04, 2010 at 04:39:26 (MET)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You guys really need to reign Fat Man in. I just noticed him insultibg catholicism. That's really offensive. For someone who is so against bullying, he seems fond of it.
As the Channer said, you're all just. Like. Us.
Kthxbai
Nick
- Friday, June 04, 2010 at 04:21:34 (MET)
Well, all I got to say to Nick, and all the 4channers is . . . . . . .
Hey boys and girls! Can you say Inquisition?
As I have mentioned so many times before, when I was only in the second or third grade I was already reading at adult level. My mother taught me how to read before I started school. We were a poor family, but our home was a treasure house full of books.
Science was my favorite subject, especially Astronomy, and when you read a lot of books on Astronomy, you also get to read up on some history, especially about how Galileo was persecuted and charged with heresy by the Roman Catholic Church, the Holy Office, and the Inquisition because he said that the earth and all the planets revolved around the sun while the church held that the sun and all the planets went around the earth. So Galileo was charged with heresy and placed under house arrest for the remainder of his life.
Books that were written by Copernicus and Galileo were placed on the Index of Forbidden Literature, but then in 1979 Galileo was officially pardoned.
Yeah, too little too late!
And as for my being a bully . . . . . well . . . . . .
After having been bullied around when I was much younger, all I have to say is . . . . .
Tit for tat and all that, what goes around comes around, and the pay-back's a bitch!
And I'm a bitch, as I'm always fond of saying, there is no such thing as a fat bastard, we fat guys are bitches, and I'm a big fat bitch! Get use to it!
Also, I got to ask Nick and all the 4channers . . . . . . .
Hey boys and girls! Can you say pedophilia?
And so, again I say . . . . .
Poop on the Pope, the pedophile priests, and the butt-banging bishops!
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:15 pm
by Indurrago
One of the most outrageous views among Catholics is the idea that the Pope is above criticism and infallible. Oh yes, the same applies to their Jesus and religions in general actually. Both ideas are just outrageous, perfection doesn't exist, no individual should be above the law or question. Earl, being religious shouldn't entitle others to special privileges it just makes no sense because deep down they're exactly the same species. Believing they should is borderline if not brain-wash. In my opinion no one human being is greater than all other living beings. And all the living beings in this planet are not greater than the planet itself. One grain of salt is NOT greater or holier or more important than the other billions that make a desert. In short with or without humans this world IS a magnificent place. Peace.
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:41 pm
by Earl
Sorry, guys. I didn't mean to start a religious discussion.
Hi, indurrago. As a believer in the Bible, I completely agree with your statement about the Pope not being infallible. (Oops! I just made a controversial statement. I should keep my mouth shut, at least in this forum.) I wasn't meaning to give special privileges to religious readers of this forum, which does not (and is not supposed to) represent any particular point of view with regard to any religious faith or the lack of such. I was only trying to be considerate and fair-minded. Believe me, I don't think I'm better than other people. The mistakes that I've made in my life have forced me to be humble. One of my closest friends is an atheist (and considering that I'm posting in the forum of a website for sports haters, for my own amusement I should mention the fact that he is
a former college football player 
) who is a sociology professor. He has helped me a great deal, and I recognize that I am indebted to him.
Incidentally, I should have quoted my final response to Nick. Well, for what it's worth, here it is ...
I wrote:I hadn't read the synthetic life topic. If I had, I would have recognized James as a 4chan troll and banned him immediately.
I've done you an undeserved favor, Nick. I did this for the sake of Catholic readers who might be offended by Fat Man's post. (Actually, I'm relieved. I was afraid that it might be worse than it was.) Even though you were banned from the forum, I've copied and pasted your objection to that topic. Now, whether your motive was sincere, I'll let the reader decide.
Nick, you're not supposed to be here. I don't think I'll bite the next time. If you're a guest in someone's home where you're rude or you act up, you're told to leave. That's what you've done at this website. So, go play somewhere else.
Earl
- Friday, June 04, 2010 at 15:29:53 (MET)
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:47 pm
by Fat Man
Yeah Nick!
Go play out in the traffic somewhere!
Hey! There's a train leaving at 12:00 Midnight.
Be under it!
Re: Scientists 'Create Synthetic Life In Lab'
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:53 pm
by Earl