Life in Venice [building a basic life form from scratch]

Reed Magazine ^ | Spring '06 | Joe Rojas-Burke

[doc30]

ping

[PatrickHenry]

Evolution Ping The List-O-Links

A conservative, pro-evolution science list, now with over 380 names. See the list's explanation, then FReepmail to be added or dropped. To assist beginners: But it's "just a theory", Evo-Troll's Toolkit, and How to argue against a scientific theory.

[VadeRetro]

Did they start by making their own dirt? If not, then forget it!

</You-Know-What_mode>

[Quark2005]

Of course, you know, if they succeed, this will only prove intelligent design, right?

Of course, you know, if they fail, this will only prove intelligent design, right?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Perhaps their work will be useful as an enhancement of my solar-powered-encphalotropic-homing-dart.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Of course if they succeed they can dine a Murano and if the fail at Burano. (As long as their Packard doesn't get pushed off Lido Pier.)

[PatrickHenry]

Of course, you know, if they succeed, this will only prove intelligent design, right?
Of course, you know, if they fail, this will only prove intelligent design, right?

Besides that, whatever they do in the lab has nothing to do with what happens in the wild. After all, were they there?

[muir_redwoods]

"Of course, you know, if they succeed, this will only prove intelligent design, right?

Of course, you know, if they fail, this will only prove intelligent design, right?

Besides that, whatever they do in the lab has nothing to do with what happens in the wild. After all, were they there?"

And you both know they have to get the job done in under 6000 years? Right?

[beezdotcom]

And you both know they have to get the job done in under 6000 years? Right?

Dude, I think it was 6 days. Making it look older is a different job.

[beezdotcom]

Bedau suggests that the first generation of artificial cells will be extremely feeble and utterly dependent on human intervention to survive.

This is why I think computer simulation will ultimately be the tool to use in endeavors like this, once computers have enough power to model everything quickly, with enough fidelity. If it takes a while to make feeble life forms, with specific intent - how much longer will it take to create the proper example of a more natural configuration that would demonstrate how hardier life forms might spontaneously emerge?

[furball4paws]

"Nevertheless, he and Bedau are confident that it can be done within a decade. Their competitors agree. “I do think it is possible, although many challenges remain,” says Jack Szostak of Harvard University. "

Szostak is one high powered dude. If he thinks it's possible, it's not just hopeful thinking.

[MeanWestTexan]

"Of course, you know, if they succeed, this will only prove intelligent design, right? Of course, you know, if they fail, this will only prove intelligent design, right?"

LOL. So true. I got the same response with the article about the 100 or so year long Brit experiment to recreate the natural speciation of cauliflower, broccli, asparigus, and cabbage from wild kale.

It succeded, but took some time. The response was the selective breeding was evidence of intelligent design, instead of a re-creation of the natural speciation.

Of course, I concur that the universe was designed so intelligently He knew evolution would occur just as He wanted it. The Great Cakebaker of the Universe.

[MonroeDNA]

Only GOd can create life. So if they do it, well, then, uh....

(I guess they are God...)

[Quark2005]

Of course, I concur that the universe was designed so intelligently He knew evolution would occur just as He wanted it. The Great Cakebaker of the Universe.

I concur wholeheartedly. But who knows - maybe He did do the whole deal in 6 days 6000 years ago (or 10 minutes ago) and just made it look like it evolved naturally - could you disprove that?

The whole point is, these aren't scientific views; intelligent design is just fine as a spiritual philosophy, but it just doesn't play by the criteria required of science the way evolutionary theory does.

[balrog666]

Play God!

[SaveUS]

"Of course, I concur that the universe was designed so intelligently He knew evolution would occur just as He wanted it. The Great Cakebaker of the Universe."

LOL I just picture some guy making it to the gates of heaven, and upon meeting God discovers that God is actually a huge one celled organism. The guy says, “But God, you said that you created us in your image! Why did you tell us that?” God replies, “I did create you in my image. I also told you to go forth and multiply.”

[MeanWestTexan]

Ah, the maybe He planted dinosaur bones just to screw with us theory.

Possible, I suppose. But not really His style.

Intentionally obscure text, which forces us to study His Word and pray for guidence --- yeah, His style.

[Antoninus]

Why does the movie "The Terminator" come to mind when reading articles like this?

Would it be cool if someone discovered that the first living cells on this planet were invented by hyper-intelligent beings--who were then killed by the bacteria they created?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!