Scientists Build Possibly The First Man-Made Genome

hackingbear writes "Wired is reporting that researchers have created the longest synthetic genome to date by threading together four long strands of DNA. 'Leading synthetic biologists said with the new work, published Thursday in the journal Science, the first synthetic life could be just months away — if it hasn't been created already. [...] The ability to synthesize longer DNA strands for less money parallels the history of genetic sequencing, where the price of sequencing a human genome has dropped from hundreds of millions of dollars to about $10,000. Just a few years ago, synthesizing a piece of DNA with 5,000 rungs in its helix, known as base-pairs, was impossible. Venter's new synthetic genome is 582,000 base-pairs.' As a programmer, I'm most excited by the possibility of a new platform and the programming jobs that will be created by it."

But, but...

[Wylfing]

But Jesus, and the Bible!

I for one

[Joseph1337]

Welcome ours 582,000 base-pair genome overlords

The question that needs to be asked is

[Pojut]

will they use this technology to create a life form who is programmed to create other life forms?

Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! IT'S A NET!!!*

*My apologies for this horrendously bad joke

Program me a kudzu/marijuana hybrid.

[Khyber]

If that can be achieved (much like a Florida geneticist once made THC-producing orange trees) then you'll single-handedly kick the War on Drugs' ass. That would be a worthy cause right there.

Re:But, but...

[CaptainPatent]

But Jesus, and the Bible!

Yes, don't worry...
We'll be able to genetically replicate those soon too

At last!

[erroneus]

I will have my four-legged chicken! (The drumstick is my favorite part)

whatcouldpossiblygowrong?

[$RANDOMLUSER]

"As a programmer, I'm most excited by the possibility of a new platform and the programming jobs that will be created by it."

As a programmer, when I think of the quality of the HTML on most websites, and then read the above sentence, I throw up in my mouth a little.

Ewww!

[monkeyboythom]

As a programmer, I'm most excited by the possibility of a new platform and the programming jobs that will be created by it.

As a regular guy, I am NOT excited by the thought of thousands of fat, greasy programmers drooling over a test tube and a well worn copy of "Weird Science."

As my friend Han was so fond of saying, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Re:Wonderful

[CaptainPatent]

Geez. The LAST thing society needs is a bunch of synthesized clones running around with hacked up spaghetti code for genes.

Yes, Comment your genes for god sake!!!

Re:Impossible?

[esampson]

I have my own theory; so many things in this world annoy me that they couldn't have happened by random chance. Instead they are proof of some supreme cosmic being who shaped the world just to piss me off.

I call my theory Belligerent Design. (with all credit to Lore Sjoberg for that joke).

Re:Thanks for the SuperFlu, Craig!

[pnewhook]

That said, if more concerned citizens had access to "the button" then we'd hardly have any threat of military coup would we?

Of course not because we'd all be dead by now.

So 582k?

[Guysmiley777]

582k ought to be enough for anybody.

Re:Wonderful

[Script Cat]

How can this be attributed to the Finite State Machine. Typically things like this have massive parallelism.
Though I donot usually draw a weiner when designing a FSM, its appendaged are pretty noodly.

Re:I used to be a paranoid...

[orclevegam]

Whenever I think somebody, anyone, not just supreme cosmic beings, is trying to piss me off, I think: am I really that important? Why, exactly, would anyone make an effort to piss me off? Nah, probably just a coincidence.

You're trying to piss me off aren't you?

Re:Ewww!

[jollyreaper]

As a regular guy, I am NOT excited by the thought of thousands of fat, greasy programmers drooling over a test tube and a well worn copy of "Weird Science."

As my friend Han was so fond of saying, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Tell the programmer to keep his hands to himself.

Re:But, but...

[babblefrog]

A monk asked Venter-zenji "Does a synthesized life form have Buddha nature or not?"
Venter-zenji replied "Mu."

FTA

[achenaar]

"(Otherwise it's like) writing Vista in binary," he said. "It's just not going to happen."
Oh how I wish I could take the "in binary" out of that sentence.

It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you

[Goldarn]

Whenever I think somebody, anyone, not just supreme cosmic beings, is trying to piss me off, I think: am I really that important?

I used to wonder about this. Then I realized that, since the cosmic beings/universe/whatever are trying to piss my off, then I am, ipso facto, that important. It did wonders for my self-esteem.

Still, I can't help but wonder... is the entire universe against me? Or just the part where light has reached since my birth? Don't laugh; it's an important question.

It's called transubstantiation.

[Peter Trepan]

You need a genetic sample [of Christ]

Acquire a Catholic who has just taken communion and induce him to vomit, thereby producing a viable sample of body and blood.

Who says science and faith aren't compatible?

Re:But, but...

[amRadioHed]

Well, the easy out there is that Animals are not entirely sentient.

You know it's funny, that's exactly what the dolphins and chimpanzees say about humans.

Re:Ewww!

[beav007]

...designing a woman that doesn't vocal cords!

I think you a word there...

Re:time to debug

[jediknil]

Certainly does need debugging...you're missing a close paren in both versions.