[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.

[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.

[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"...

[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?

[RetSignman]

[ “wet artificial life.” ]

Sorry, you mad scientists, but it’s already been created in the form of the democrat party.

[Nateman]

If one thinks of life as self replicating information, it already has been done: The computer virus. An accidental but intelligent design form of life

[driftdiver]

“”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.”

So what happens when they release some monster that ends up having unexpected consequences. Do they just claim it was a learning experience? Say they ‘make’ something that kills bugs in crops. Instead it starts eating crops and soon we have no wheat. What kinda freak egomaniacs are these clowns?

[RightWhale]

The secret is not in the DNA but the cell walls, which would include the walls of any interior substructures. If they are intending to make simple cell walls out of a simple compound they will not make much progress. Their first cell should be a kind of ribosome.