US Scientist Creates Artificial Life 253
Joshocar writes "The sometimes-controversial US scientist Craig Venter has announced that he has created artificial life. Venter stated that it is 'a very important philosophical step in the history of our species ... We are going from reading our genetic code to the ability to write it. That gives us the hypothetical ability to do things never contemplated before.' In the lab, Venter was able to construct and write genetic code from laboratory chemicals. The next step is to insert this code into a cell, which has already been demonstrated in the past. This ability to write genetic code could result in new ways to combat global warming and new drugs, but it could also lead to new bio-weapons."
He looked down on his creating and... (Score:5, Funny)
Hello... (Score:5, Funny)
AGTCA
TCGCT "WORLD"
?
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! (Score:2, Funny)
Life can only be created by our Lord.
This is worse than stem cell research!
I'm calling George W. Bush about this tomorrow. Do you think the executive branch could put through to ban the creation of Life except by God? Those activist judges legislating form the bench might call it unconstitutional, but Justice Scalia has our back.
Very Truely Yours,
Bob Dole
--
Write in George W. Bush. Never switch presidents in a war!
Re:There are few more steps (Score:1, Funny)
7. Profit!
fork! (Score:5, Funny)
He took the source for a bacterium, he forked it, and made a newer, cleaner version. He is about to start testing. His version does not yet actually do anything, but if all goes well it will be a great foundation for new and usefull stuff.
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Re:Grossly misleading (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Hello... (Score:5, Funny)
Well..I am for it (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Hello... (Score:5, Funny)
char str[] = "Hello World\n";
FILE * out;
if(out=fopen("/dev/chromosome", "w")) fprintf(out,str);
Apparently it is up to the operating system implementation to provide real time conversions to DNA code bocks from the file stream.
Re:life (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Hello... (Score:4, Funny)
"All your base are belong to us"
Re:How long until the neoterics emerge? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Is anyone else afraid? (Score:3, Funny)
He didn't create it... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Grossly misleading (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Life... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Grossly misleading (Score:3, Funny)
Well, just why do you think the scientists are so hell-bent on creating artificial life to their specifications, mechanical or biological ?
Re:Step 6 (Score:3, Funny)
Another case of (Score:1, Funny)
Re:When memes... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:MOD PARENT UP (Score:4, Funny)
Reminds me of the old creationist joke (Score:3, Funny)
The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest." To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!"
But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"
Re:I disagree (Score:4, Funny)
So if humans do genetic programming, it's obviously designed. Otherwise it's random, mindless mutations, that just somehow happened over the course of billions of years. What useful code for computers has ever come about by any other means beside a human mind? So now human minds contemplate writing genetic code, yet those same human minds try to make themselves and the rest of us believe that the original genetic code did not originate in someone's mind, God's mind. Indeed, God expressing Himself through the Apostle Paul gives us His assessment in Chapter 1 of the Letter to the Romans:
"But they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools"
In other news:
Along with the "Creation of Life" some other patents were issued recently for "Cold Fusion", "Anti-Gravity" and a "Time-Travel" device dubbed "Stargate". Patents are also pending for "Eternal Youth" and "Perpetual Motion".
Re:life (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Grossly misleading (Score:2, Funny)