FRANKENSTEIN LIVES, Synthetic Life!
57SYNTHETIC LIFE
FRANKENSTEIN LIVES,Synthetic Life
The Frankenstein obsession to
create synthetic life has an update.
In May 2010,genome expert J. Craig
Venter created an artificial living
cell by synthesizing the DNA of a
bacterium and transplanting it
into another one.The first self-
replicating organism who is
born from a computer program.
The artificial Mycoplasma
mycoides ,a bacterial goat
infection,was created from
chemicals from the lab inserted
with a gene that turns it blue.
The fabricated genome was
then transplanted into a bacterium
stripped of its own DNA thus
replicating the implanted DNA.
The pitchforks came out with
the fear that the cyber-lifeform
could escape the lab and become
invasive,sparking Bioethical studies.
The success of this project brings us
closer to creating biomechanically
produced drugs and bio-fuel...
SYNTHESIZED CELL
CommentsLoading...
....Like curing cancer with gene-modified drugs that attack cancer cells without damage to healthy ones?
...and there's the rub - in this example, why is cancer so prevalent these days... increasing research into causes rather research into treating symptoms to me makes more sense.
This sounds like a great breakthrough. The thing we should worry about is how this knowledge is used. Every great scientific discovery has the risk of being used to harm as well as do good. Maybe I watch to much science fiction but some of my favorite movies start this way.
Then again,without science and tech.,we'd be throwing rocks?
Although this particular application is in its infancy there could be actual real world benefits in the future. I guess it could have medical applications. What if this technology could help people digest food like people with Crohn's disease, lactose intolerance. What if organisms could eat cancer?
Merry Christmas Mentalist Acer and thanks for a great hub! :D
Merry Christmas to you Raven,the possibilities,I think,outweigh the apprehension and cost,thanks for reading.;)
Great point about the rocks. I guess people probably thought the same about fire. If we are not going forward we are going backwards! Merry Christmas and thanks for the info.
The Genome project has already done much work in the area of disease and medicine. We will probably see great strides over the next few years. Thanks for an interesting hub.
It sounds so interesting on paper. But the thought of creating something that might ultimately destroy us is still there :-)
Pamela:
De Greek:
DNA research is 21st centuries most controversial science and yet the most promising,thanks for reading.;)
I find it frightening.
As with anything New,there's always precaution that needs to be taken,thanks for reading,RunAbstract.;)
Great hub. Fantastic photos. Very interesting. Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.
Thanks for the visit,Lee,Stay Blessed!;)
This amazes me.The only way we can go forward is to try new ideas.Great informative hub.
Interesting hub Mentalist. I'm reminded of Daisy the clone cow. Not the same though. Keep writing.=)
always exploring:
hubpageswriter:
DNA science has reached a point of actionable reality and not simply text,caution seems to accompany this type of research...too bad with older industrial and pharmacuetical science,the same caution wasn't and isn't provided...
A day late, and a dollar short. Hopefully to spark renewed interest. ;)
Fascinating little blurb. Few people are aware of how quickly science is changing, especially in respect to biological and nano-logical advances.
Quantum computing will be viable (if not expensive) before 2020, and hopefully as successful iterations are tweaked this will eventually lead to computing power required to crunch protein information even faster.
IBM already has some biological-silicon hybrid processors, so I'm real pleased with how this next decade will unfold, and can't wait to be on the other side of it.
I'm hopeful,Lexi,that the research and achievments are progressing into a better future...you and I pretty much know what science is beneficial and what is not*.;)
We certainly need synthetic people but they should be sympathetic synthetics!
...just as sympathetic as the organics,thanks for reading,Micky.;)
How cool science is so amazing it ROCKS! My frankie wouldn't have those silly bolts... Katie :)
Lol,Amazon would have to at least have the bolts on sale;)
Another South Afican making waves - we seem to be good at that! Thanks for sharing this important and interesting information. This research does seem to hold promise for us humans.
Love and peace
Tony
It's getting to the point of US fundalmentalism putting a squeeze on some important cutting edge research.Good to know that the world comes into perspective when that happens,thanks Tony.;)
I hope scientist will never really try to built Frankenstein. I wish there is a way to eliminate bad effect of technology and leave good effect only. I want people understand, having those technology and knowledge in their hands, do not mean they are God. :(
I don't know if God wants us to know his way,including the secret of life,but it looks as if we're heading in that direction,Freya.;)
I'm sure nothing is wrong by knowing God's way in creating human and everything inside this life. What is wrong is act like we are God ourselves and entirely forget the reason why we pursue the knowledge at first; to give better life for humanity. Ah, or maybe I am wrong? Maybe the reason is not that at all? Maybe human pursue knowledge indeed to make themselves almighty? knowledge is power, and I think power is scary tool if landed inside wrong hand.
There is a thin line on acting in God's behalf and self-intrest,I agree,Freya.;)
acer:
We have only just begun! It's the first step.
Keep your fingers crossed that we last long enuf to take a 2nd step!
Qwark :-)
Cell re-generation.the holy-grail,baby steps,thanks for reading Quark.;)
Sorry, I'm a bit late reading - life and all that gets in the way...
Cell regeneration is one thing but what about asking whether we 'should'? I guess it all goes back to where we draw the line. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for growing a limb or a much-needed donor organ but what about 'designer babies' and 'cloning'? I'd love to live forever but...
fayx24:To me it's a question of equal access to getting the DNA benefits,if parents want a red haired baby with a high IQ and muscular,then the ethics are toward the saftey of the procedure and the rights of those who aren't genetically enhanced,I'm not overtly religious,but the rights of an unborn child concerns me. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
Thanks for the article! Interesting! I'm not religious at all but my concern lies with the 'why'. For the most part, intentions are usually for good, but what about if good intentions are taken to the extreme? I'm thinking about inventions like weapons and nuclear power.
Anyway, great Hub, Mentalist acer! They certainly make us think!
fayx24:Absolute power corrupts absolutly,is a concern that needs heed.;)
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Electro-Denizen Level 3 Commenter 17 months ago
sounds interesting - but not entirely sure it's useful to humanity, when there are greater pressing problems to solve...