[donh]

"Yea, this is how you do science--you remake some warmed-over, unlikely, drivel out of an adolescent science fiction story and claim it's a significant scientific experiment."

No. I think I've read eight books on this subject in which this proposition was discussed and debated.

Tell me in which of these books exists a lengthy discussion of your proposed experiment, in which, I'll remind you, every jot, whistle, and twig of a cellular creature would be created "from scratch" in a laboratory. By actual title, if you don't mind.

[unlearner]

"Tell me in which of these books exists a lengthy discussion of your proposed experiment, in which, I'll remind you, every jot, whistle, and twig of a cellular creature would be created 'from scratch' in a laboratory. By actual title, if you don't mind."

I might be able check my library records for that time and get the names, but I think you misunderstood. I was pointing out how nanotechnology anticipates the possible future ability to assemble things atom by atom. I cannot recall if any book specifically discussed assembling life from non living materials. The nano tech industry is driven by profit potential based on the assumption there will be a huge demand for the life improving capabilities it can offer. Understanding the mysteries of life is not the overreaching objective.