Scinetists create an artificial life

Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell. The researchers constructed a bacterium's "genetic software" and transplanted it into a host cell.

The resulting microbe then looked and behaved like the species "dictated" by the synthetic DNA.

"As soon as this new software goes into the cell, the cell reads [it] and converts into the species specified in that genetic code."

The new bacteria replicated over a billion times, producing copies that contained and were controlled by the constructed, synthetic DNA.

"This is the first time any synthetic DNA has been in complete control of a cell," said Dr Venter.

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10132762.stm]BBC News - 'Artificial life' breakthrough announced by scientists[/url]

Sometimes I'm awed at how far we've come.

So what's next? Artificially designed plants and animals?

I just listened about that on NPR, or National Public Radio (America's version of BBC).

Kinda scary.

Welcome to the first step in designing an Android.

Hmmmm.....

Misha misspelled? it is the end of the world as we know it.

Does an organism with an artificial genome = artificial organism (artificial life)?

Wow, the news are late hahaha I watched Craig Venter's conference months ago, and then I watched him talk about this again at TED. :P

The anti-christ is among us!!!

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Originally Posted by Lipp [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Does an organism with an artificial genome = artificial organism (artificial life)?

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I wondered that to...I'm not sure.

I think generally when we talk about artificial life we assume there is an intelligent being involved but I guess technically it is.

Did you hear though that they created a computer that has the computing power of a cat? Within 9 years they said they will have a computer with the computing abilities of a human in terms of being able to form abstract thoughts and problem solve...kinda scary I think...didn't they see Terminator?

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Originally Posted by the_robot [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Wow, the news are late hahaha I watched Craig Venter's conference months ago, and then I watched him talk about this again at TED. :P

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Do you know Craig Venter?

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Originally Posted by Lipp [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Does an organism with an artificial genome = artificial organism (artificial life)?

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No. But there are ppl working on constructing a completely artificial metabolism that evolves.

Then again, depends on how you define life. Autonomously replicating systems have already been created. Wiki for in vitro selection.

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Originally Posted by IndiReloaded [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Do you know Craig Venter?

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Not personally, but I've been reading about his research before they actually did it.

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Originally Posted by dewilliams2 [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Did you hear though that they created a computer that has the computing power of a cat? Within 9 years they said they will have a computer with the computing abilities of a human in terms of being able to form abstract thoughts and problem solve...kinda scary I think...didn't they see Terminator?

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Actually, if the computing power growth scale keeps at the pace it's been in the last 30 years, they'll have a computer with the same computer power of a human male by 2035, female by 2038. Now, quantum computers may change that... quickly.

We can barely handle natural life as it is.

Somebody is gonna f*ck up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by the_robot [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Actually, if the computing power growth scale keeps at the pace it's been in the last 30 years, they'll have a computer with the same computer power of a human male by 2035, female by 2038. Now, quantum computers may change that... quickly.

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Aren't you a man? Whose side are you on?

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Originally Posted by SirWagginston [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Aren't you a man? Whose side are you on?

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Human male and female brains are different, I'm not saying females are smarter, but their brain works faster than the male brain.