God 2.0
 

Something to discuss during the weekend:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/20...etic-life-form

In a few words, humans can now synthesize life.

Re: God 2.0
 

Uh oh! This sounds similar to the start of the "I am legend" movie. Not exactly the same, but you watch, there will be vampire zombies running around in no time.

Sopwith, nice find. Definitely an interesting accomplishment for science.

Re: God 2.0
 

hummm...
did they created life, or did they implant synthetic DNA to an existing life?

Re: God 2.0
 

This is dumb, will the life have a soul?

Re: God 2.0
 

Don't worry. Science will learn to create souls too! :p

Re: God 2.0
 

news flash: There is no soul.

Re: God 2.0
 

are there souls??
I thought every human IS a soul.

Re: God 2.0
 

one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs of our/all time.............
and its dumb???? jeeeez

why should it have a soul? does any life form?

Re: God 2.0
 

That's somehow good. In some years Nokia will grow programmers in the same way. My kids will never live a speculation thread like I do, but they won't have to wait months for an update :p

Re: God 2.0
 

Latter. Also worth pointing that the DNA in question was created out of scracth only in chemical/physical sense. The information content of the DNA is from sequenced natural DNA/genes. Long way to go until we are able to really create life. Here is the actual paper from Science (no subscrition / academic license required).

Also, why 2.0. Shouldn't there be a 1.0 version release before 2.0?

Re: God 2.0
 

they can implement the next generation of smartphones in the brain with instant updates.

Re: God 2.0
 

This topic is also the cover story of the Economist this week.

Re: God 2.0
 

So this is how it all ends, eh?

Re: God 2.0
 

Forget 2nd Life guys - its time for Synthetic Life 1.0. And its
the real stuff.

Yes this is not really Life from scratch - but synthetic DNA in a real bacterium cell.

As Freeman Dyson said very aptly ...

But most of the time, its these bad starts which pave the way ultimately for big discoveries and breakthroughs.

Re: God 2.0
 

im gonna build a church and worship this, who knows in 2000 years i might have duped half the planet that my god is real!
(sarcasm?)

Re: God 2.0
 

oh holy patchwork synthetic amoeba, hallowed are thy multiplication. although you live in a petri dish and were created by a few guys in white coats, please grant me the power to smite lesser mortals... i don't see it catching on...

Re: God 2.0
 

Nothing new about synthetic DNA in bacterial cell. I've personally geneticly modifield bacteria with synthetic DNA many times.

It's more about the amount of information contained in the used transforming DNA, I.e using whole genome. It's nice new method for doing genome level genetic modification. It can be used in biotechlogy for massive genetic modofication and creating new bacteria strains for all sorts of cool stuff (bioenergy etc). One day it might be one of the methods used for creating 'new' species.


It's very nice start and interesting experiment.

Re: God 2.0
 

Its like building a new organism but its build up from molecules found in natural organisms. So its not being "god", rather redesigning "gods" creations on a molecular level. If one is breeding animals in a classical sense its similar but without this much control.

Nevertheless synthetic biology will probably produce rather "new" organisms, since there are so many combinations on a molecular level.

Re: God 2.0
 

well we share 98% of our dna with chimpanzees. so think how much variety you could get with just 2% leeway, then consider we apparently share 50% of our dna with banana's... with 100% control we could MAKE SHARKS WITH FRIGGIN LASERS ON THEIR HEADS!!! :) :) :) :) :)

Re: God 2.0
 

Or better

http://maemo.nokia.com/img/n900-survey-device.png

Hmm, seems like they left their e-mail in the DNA... Maybe as a bug-tracker link... :D

Re: God 2.0
 

sharks with lasers? id just be happy with genetically engineered hot chicks with 3 boobs!

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...orn/3boobs.jpg

Re: God 2.0
 

:D i'd prefer something more beneficial though, like dishwashing monkeys or badger car mechanics....

Re: God 2.0
 

Do you have three hands? I have two so ithink the way it is is good...:)

Re: God 2.0
 

no, but i have two seriously big hands..

Re: God 2.0
 

mwahaha its all part of my plan! while you debate and perv over the merits of 2 vs 3 boobs, my sharks are taking over the world with their laser beams! did i mention i just gave them legs and made them 70 foor tall?

Re: God 2.0
 

so why don't you make 4 boobs then:rolleyes:

Re: God 2.0
 

c'mon, 4 boobs is just greedy, and a violation of nature!

Re: God 2.0
 

Well if you do something you have to do it right:D 3 just doesnt fit. What else in the human body is there three times? none!:cool:

Re: God 2.0
 

2 hands + 1 mouth though!

Re: God 2.0
 

buy that man a beer, and a lapdance(from a girl with 3 boobs)

Re: God 2.0
 

4 all the way dude!
two on the front and two on the back!

Re: God 2.0
 

I have to agree with that sentiment, we are souls. Some just more than others ;)

Re: God 2.0
 

A man just hacked a new life form and somehow we're talking about giving girls more boobs. Go human race!

...

Re: God 2.0
 

How are three boobs related with God 2.0 oO?

Edit: I agree Harp, we humans are so primitive and horny :/

Re: God 2.0
 

Just because you don't have one doesn't mean everyone else doesn't too ;)

Re: God 2.0
 

@Crogge

You forgot greedy.

Re: God 2.0
 

there was a good bbc program about this a while ago following their progress.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00m6nhq

to be honest I think creating "life" is nothing more extraordinary than any other chemical. What we call "alive" is nothing but a small definition. I consider a virus to be primitive life and self replicating nano machines a virus. except you won't hear many scientists say that. "we're not creating a virus we're creating a tool (machine)".