Not intending to re-open a can of worms since I have very limited time available right now for discussions, but I thought some info I received in a newsletter might be of interest as it relates to our earlier conversation.
We had discussed how far away or near was the possibility of creating life in the lab. There is relevant research being done for the food industry. I realize this is not the same as creating life, but if we are some day able to do so, the techniques used to form life will probably be informed by what is learned in food research and similar areas.
A brief description of the project is here:
http://www.research.nestle.com/foodcolloids2006/Presentation/ We had discussed how far away or near was the possibility of creating life in the lab. There is relevant research being done for the food industry. I realize this is not the same as creating life, but if we are some day able to do so, the techniques used to form life will probably be informed by what is learned in food research and similar areas. I'd be more inclined to guess that what this shows, is the likelihood of bypassing a need for creating life from scratch--if we can improve the species we have, for utilitarian purposes, what's the commercial, or scientific point of recreating the base case? Who'll want to fund it?