Scientists around world in race to create artificial life (announcement expected in 3-10 years)

The Times of India / AP ^ | August 20, 2007

[Stoat]

See also a slightly more detailed version of this story in the NY Post (I posted the Times of India version of the story because FR posting rules require heavy editing of NY Post articles)

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Excerpt:

One of the leaders in the field, Jack Szostak at Harvard Medical School, predicts that within the next six months, scientists will report evidence that the first step - creating a cell membrane - is "not a big problem." Scientists are using fatty acids in that effort.

Szostak is also optimistic about the next step - getting nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA, to form a working genetic system.

His idea is that once the container is made, if scientists add nucleotides in the right proportions, then Darwinian evolution could simply take over.

"We aren't smart enough to design things, we just let evolution do the hard work and then we figure out what happened," Szostak said.

 

 

 

 

 

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From these sparse articles' incomplete descriptions, I'm not so sure that what they are describing is something that I would call "life" but it does sound like something that will serve to further erode and demean the sanctity and unique importance of all life.

If "life" is something that can now be created in a laboratory, it will diminish the importance and reverence that (some) humans will feel for one another, and for their children, both born and unborn....after all, if it can be created in a laboratory, it's not so very special, is it then?

I find this unsettling, and feel that it does not bode well for Mankind's overall relationship with himself and with God.

I wish that religious scholars had been interviewed for this article, to help provide some philosophical context.

 

"sigh"

[Stoat]

ping

[Stoat]

ping

[Candor7]

I find this unsettling, and feel that it does not bode well for Mankind's overall relationship with himself and with God.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I could handle having a little more time to see how things turn out with the great grand children!

[Thebaddog]

“A handful of scientists” are making headlines disproportionate to their numbers. Don’t you smell an agenda from the media. Ask Soros for his thoughts and cut out the middle men.

[The KG9 Kid]

First lifeform they create will probably be a cop.

/sarcasm (?)

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Likely they will just take bits and pieces of preexisting biological materials from living organisms and mix and match them together. They’ll then take a bow as if this is something astounding, that they personally created new life. In reality it’s not much different than taking an engine from a Chevy, various parts from other cars, and ‘creating’ a new automobile. Yes, it will be an accomplishment of sorts, and yes it is a challenge to build new cell membranes etc., but it is not the same as creating life. I’m really sick of hyped science and scientists who are trying to be rock stars.

[D-fendr]

Define “from scratch.”

[hocndoc]

Here’s an article that quotes some bioethicists,
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Science/853990.html

C. Ben Mitchell is a theologian, as well as a bioethicist.

I keep thinking, “Why?” What is the purpose other than to just try and see? I can’t believe that there’s a medical benefit or any other form of scientific benefit from these experiments.

Other than getting scientists jobs and funding, that is.

[D-fendr]

"Likely they will just take bits and pieces of preexisting biological materials from living organisms and mix and match them together. "

Or, they could spend some quality time with the missus and get better results...

[Vanders9]

Personally, I prefer the old traditional method of creating life :)

[taxesareforever]

3 to 10 years. Isn’t that about the time that global warming will melt all the glaciers and flood the earth? Guess they’ll have to get the big news out by row boat.

[Caipirabob]

Artificial life already exists. It's also know as "no life"...

[Stoat]

Here’s an article that quotes some bioethicists,

Thanks very much for posting that link....it's a worthwhile article that I hope everyone will read.

More interesting than the one I posted here  :-)

[Stoat]

Personally, I prefer the old traditional method of creating life :)

You mean, in the back seat of a Chevy?   :-)

[Stallone]

If they fail to achieve life, they have one consolation.

The residue will be yet another lawyer.

[Darkwolf377]

(announcement expected in 3-10 years)

At least they gave the reporters a good lead time. "Three to ten year warning, people!"

[Raycpa]

Artificial life A/K/A teenagers

[Doctor Freeze]

In my opinion, this little “experiment” only strengthens the case for a creator. But, in all its ignorance, the media will spin it to challenge this case.

[Allan]

Scientists around world in race to create artificial life

I find life already rather artificial. Are they going to make it even more artificial?