Posted on 05/20/2010 10:39:53 AM PDT by mgstarr
Scientists have turned inanimate chemicals into a living organism in an experiment that raises profound questions about the essence of life.
Craig Venter, the US 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.”
The bacteria’s genes were all constructed in the laboratory “from four bottles of chemicals on a chemical synthesizer, starting with information on a computer,” he said.
The research – published online by the journal Science – was hailed as a landmark by many independent scientists and philosophers.
“Venter is creaking open the most profound door in humanity’s history, potentially peeking into its destiny,” said Julian Savulescu, ethics professor at Oxford University. “This is a step towards ... creation of living beings with capacities and natures that could never have naturally evolved.”
The synthetic bacteria have 14 “watermark sequences” attached to their genome – inert stretches of DNA added to distinguish them from their natural counterparts. They behaved and divided in lab dishes like natural bacteria.
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
OK Freepers give it a try!
A 3- letter frequency
http://www.richkni.co.uk/php/crypta/freq.php
ata => 48
act => 31
taa => 30
agc => 29
tga => 28
aat => 27
cta => 26
ctg => 25
tag => 25
tat => 25
cgg => 23
gct => 22
tca => 22
cat => 21
aca => 21
gat => 19
aac => 19
cac => 18
ttt => 18
tac => 18
ccg => 17
gcc => 17
cgt => 17
gtc => 17
att => 17
caa => 16
tgt => 16
aaa => 16
tgc => 16
gac => 15
ttg => 15
ggc => 14
atc => 14
gta => 14
gca => 14
atg => 14
tcg => 13
aag => 12
gag => 12
gga => 12
gtt => 12
gtg => 12
gaa => 12
acg => 12
ggt => 12
aga => 11
ttc => 11
tta => 11
agt => 9
gcg => 9
cag => 9
agg => 9
tct => 9
cca => 8
ctt => 8
ctc => 8
cga => 7
acc => 7
tcc => 6
tgg => 6
ggg => 6
cct => 5
ccc => 5
cgc => 4
So what? They inserted some sequences in the genome?
Big deal. They can do that already with viral vector technology.
This was not “creating life” by any stretch.
Frequency of letters in English:
e 12.702%
t 9.056%
a 8.167%
o 7.507%
i 6.966%
n 6.749%
s 6.327%
h 6.094%
r 5.987%
d 4.253%
l 4.025%
c 2.782%
u 2.758%
m 2.406%
w 2.360%
f 2.228%
g 2.015%
y 1.974%
p 1.929%
b 1.492%
v 0.978%
k 0.772%
j 0.153%
x 0.150%
q 0.095%
z 0.074%
Within the synthesized genome, Venter and colleagues left a watermark to clearly identify their work — four added DNA sequences whose string of bases spell out messages. The first watermark includes a code with which to decipher the others, including the names of the contributing scientists, three famous quotes, and an email address. “If people can decipher the code, they can send an email to us,” said Venter. http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/57443/Imagine being able to send an eMail to God (or Satan) as a result of one's research into evolotionary biology.
Sounds farfetched, I'm sure. What is this 'watermark' thing? And if either of the aforementioned supernatural beings actually exist, how'd such be recognized in their work?
The watermark is simply a string of non-coding DNA that they inserted in the sequence. Nothing else.
But not with the best of intensions... They are thinking about designing them to eat “excess” carbon and CO2...
Maybe they are a front for the Human Extinction Movement?
“Many Voices”, Star Trek: The Next Generation.
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