Scientist Create Life...

[ariscus99 1]

From CNN

Scientists have turned inanimate chemicals into a living organism in an experiment that raises profound questions about the essence of life.

Craig Venter, the U.S. genomics pioneer, announced on Thursday that scientists at his laboratories in Maryland and California had succeeded in their 15-year project to make the world's first "synthetic cells" -- bacteria called Mycoplasma mycoides.

"We have passed through a critical psychological barrier," Dr. Venter told the FT. "It has changed my own thinking, both scientifically and philosophically, about life, and how it works."

Thoughts?

[leroyspuds 0]

Reading further, I believe the computer-designed DNA was actually injected into an already living cell. So, life didn't start from scratch per se.

There is tremendous potential for good from this and similar efforts. Alternative fuels to get us off of oil dependence, cures for horrible diseases, and other advances would be great. Al Qaida creating genetically mutated terrorist zombies or biological weapons of mass destruction would not be desirable! Seriously, controls and safeguards are needed to ensure such technology is used for social good only. How to define and accomplish that is another question.

[LeighaMason 19]

I need to read more about it. But if I am reading it correctly and say the technology was advanced further than bacteria and could be used in humans you could use the computer to create a "super persons" DNA (strongest muscles, greater intelligence, best health, etc) and then implant that into a stripped out normal human cell and create a super race.

[pattygreen 5]

There remains one and only one type of cause that has shown itself able to create functional information like we find in cells, books and software programs—intelligent design.

It seems to me that rather than creating “artificial life,” what they did was figure out how to plagiarize the intelligent designer’s programming.

[btrieger 21]

Aren't we already breeding of control in the first place?

Why in the world would anyone want to manufacture more creatures or even people?