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Started 2 years ago by KSquared
Latest reply from Tigertree

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KSquared
Literally Hell
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I read about this today:

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/05/scientists-create-first-self-replicating-synthetic-life/

"In a feat that is the culmination of two and a half years of tests and adjustments, researchers at the J. Craig Venter Institute inserted artificial genetic material Ã¢â‚¬â€ chemically printed, synthesized and assembled Ã¢â‚¬â€ into cells that were then able to grow naturally."

This makes me think about Bill Joy's "Why the Future Doesn't Need Us", although that had a bit of a different focus IIRC. I'm planning to read it again.

I'm seeing people bring up "grey goo" in response to this as well.

Thoughts on this? Exciting, frightening or a little of both?

Posted 2 years ago #
gramarye
In Exile
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I'm going with the "exciting" camp. Obviously, it *could* be frightening, but I generally feel that there is never any upside to deliberately foregoing technological progress out of fear of what it *could* be used for by nefarious people. The upside is simply too incredible to ignore--and if we ever do have to deal with people using the knowledge for bad ends, we're going to want to understand it even more in that instance, too.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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KSquared wrote >>
I read about this today:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/05/scientists-create-first-self-replicating-synthetic-life/
"In a feat that is the culmination of two and a half years of tests and adjustments, researchers at the J. Craig Venter Institute inserted artificial genetic material Ã¢â‚¬â€ chemically printed, synthesized and assembled Ã¢â‚¬â€ into cells that were then able to grow naturally."
This makes me think about Bill Joy's "Why the Future Doesn't Need Us", although that had a bit of a different focus IIRC. I'm planning to read it again.
I'm seeing people bring up "grey goo" in response to this as well.
Thoughts on this? Exciting, frightening or a little of both?
Aren't we facebook friends? I've been super excited about this. Certainly poses many ethical questions, but I can't imagine the benefits humanity will glean from this.

Carl: Hey, you know what I'm looking forward to? The future.
Have you heard about this internet thing?
Lenny: Internet?
Carl: Yeah, it's the internetting they invented to line swim
trunks. [holds up a pair of trunks caresses his face
lining] It provides a comforting snugness.
Moe: [whistles] You guys really going to dive off of here?
Lenny: Not me. I'm shaking like a French soldier.
Moe: Yeah, I think I just logged onto my internet.

Posted 2 years ago #
10sun
Columbus, OH
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Get the Video Player

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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gramarye wrote >>
I'm going with the "exciting" camp. Obviously, it *could* be frightening...

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/splice/

;)

Posted 2 years ago #
Bear
The woods
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Get the Video Player

OK, just kidding, I'll go with "exciting" too.

Posted 2 years ago #
KSquared
Literally Hell
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@Mercurius, yep we sure are :)

Posted 2 years ago #
Lorence
Westgate
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Amazingly excited!!!!
As for the frightened crowd, here's an excellent post:
First round of ill-informed objections to the first synthetic bacterium

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/05/first_round_of_ill-informed_ob.php

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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Super exciting, does enter the realm of ice-9 with the "software" for cells but still exciting.

Posted 2 years ago #