Default Scientists create a living organism

[Nik]

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/science.1190719

Synthetic DNA in a existing cell.

This was always inevitable. There's nothing so special about "life" that it cannot be created and modified.

Except we've now created LIFE because the artificial DNA has not just reproduced itself within the cell (RNA, blah blah blah), it's actually reproduced a copy of the entire cell and they've done it billions of times now.

The 100% artificial thing they created is reproducing itself at will on its own, which is the very definition of life.

 

[Azraele]

They created bacteria. Kind of a scary thought.

 

[Crono]

It sounds like they "hacked" the DNA of the original cell and got it to multiply.
It's still a big accomplishment if so. Actually creating a living organism is still a ways off, though.

 

[sdifox]

so, our anti-biotics are losing their effectiveness and now the scients create new type of bacteria... superb combination

 

[Crono]

so, our anti-biotics are losing their effectiveness and now the scients create new type of bacteria... superb combination

I want my zombie virus now.

 

[Eli]

We couldn't even control hybridized honeybees, how the hell are we going to keep new microorganisms out of the environment?

This will not end well.

 

[DT4K]

WTF is a default scientist?

 

[Nik]

It sounds like they "hacked" the DNA of the original cell and got it to multiply.
It's still a big accomplishment if so. Actually creating a living organism is still a ways off, though.

They emailed a DNA sequence with a million billion brazilian letters in it to a machine that built the DNA with artificial ingredients and then the cell began to multiply into more cells with the same artificial DNA.

 

[SunnyD]

They emailed a DNA sequence with a million billion brazilian letters in it to a machine that built the DNA with artificial ingredients and then the cell began to multiply into more cells with the same artificial DNA.

So what you're saying is the bacteria uses Portuguese DNA?

 

[trmiv]

"You're meddling with powers you can't possibly comprehend!"

 

[Nik]

haha trmiv

 

[tynopik]

i'm pretty sure i've seen this same story at least 5 times over the last decade or so

the key point is that they never actually start from scratch. maybe they get a little closer each time, but until you actually start with just basic compounds and create a living cell out of it, stfu and stop claiming you created 'artificial life'

 

[Brainonska511]

i'm pretty sure i've seen this same story at least 5 times over the last decade or so

the key point is that they never actually start from scratch. maybe they get a little closer each time, but until you actually start with just basic compounds and create a living cell out of it, stfu and stop claiming you created 'artificial life'

The scientists aren't making that claim. It's the journalists that are twisting the work of the scientists.

The big thing is that the group synthesized the DNA polymer chemically (using the codes that occur naturally) and then replaced the DNA in a host cell with the synthetic DNA, which was then shown to work just as well. It's definitely a big step in synthetic biology and a step towards creating designer organisms, but it is definitely not creating life from scratch.

Anyway, is it such a surprise that synthetic DNA and natural DNA (when they have the same sequence) work the same? They are both chemically and structurally equivalent.

 

[Nik]

i'm pretty sure i've seen this same story at least 5 times over the last decade or so

the key point is that they never actually start from scratch. maybe they get a little closer each time, but until you actually start with just basic compounds and create a living cell out of it, stfu and stop claiming you created 'artificial life'

So what's false about 100% artificial DNA recreating itself, splitting, and reproducing new cells with that same 100% artificial DNA?

 

[ixelion]

proof that god does not exist.

 

[Zargon]

proof that god does not exist.

not really

 

[Miramonti]

They are ruining humanity. It registered on these forums and is already a lifer!

 

[SlitheryDee]

proof that god does not exist.

Proof that scientists do exist.

 

[Jeff7]

WTF is a default scientist?

You know, just your regular everyday science guy who does sciency stuff. The lab probably has some beakers of colored liquid, with dry ice at the bottom for that foggy bubbling effect.
There's also going to be a theremin somewhere in the room.

 

[Gooberlx2]

28 days later incoming? D:

Impressive nonetheless.

Awww Jesus Christ...I knew it was going to be fast zombies. D:

 

[SunnyD]

proof that god does not exist.

Or simply proof that god is what you make of it. To a cave man, our technology is (and has been for some time) at the level of gods.

Who's to say that humans don't one day manage to create and manipulate an artificial universe? Would that not make us the gods of that universe?

Who's to say our universe wasn't constructed in a similar fashion? And who's to say our constructor's universe wasn't created in a similar fashion? And so on, in perpetuity.

 

[ixelion]

You know, just your regular everyday science guy who does sciency stuff. The lab probably has some beakers of colored liquid, with dry ice at the bottom for that foggy bubbling effect.

like in the tampon commercials

 

[Jeff7]

Or simply proof that god is what you make of it. To a cave man, our technology is (and has been for some time) at the level of gods.

Who's to say that humans don't one day manage to create and manipulate an artificial universe? Would that not make us the gods of that universe?

Who's to say our universe wasn't constructed in a similar fashion? And who's to say our constructor's universe wasn't created in a similar fashion? And so on, in perpetuity.

Technically, we still wouldn't be gods. A god is something supernatural. We'd just be another life form, capable of screwing with lower life forms on a level they couldn't comprehend.

"Hmm, this doesn't look right. I think I'll change the gravitational constant of this new universe.......and reverse its effects, while I'm at it."
Meanwhile, many trillions of star systems instantly disintegrate, despite the desperate prayers of many more trillions of briefly terrified inhabitants. Oops. Oh well, format & reinstall.

Now I feel like watching "The Farnsworth Parabox."

 

[ixelion]

Or simply proof that god is what you make of it. To a cave man, our technology is (and has been for some time) at the level of gods.

Who's to say that humans don't one day manage to create and manipulate an artificial universe? Would that not make us the gods of that universe?

Who's to say our universe wasn't constructed in a similar fashion? And who's to say our constructor's universe wasn't created in a similar fashion? And so on, in perpetuity.

Agree, but it's not really necessary to call anything god.

 

[AMCRambler]

So...what comes with OS X?

The scientists that hang out at Starbucks, drink frappacinos all day and use their wifi pretending to work.