A new life form being created

[Kizzume]

www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/oct...s.climatechange

Craig Venter, the controversial DNA researcher involved in the race to decipher the human genetic code, has built a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals and is poised to announce the creation of the first new artificial life form on Earth.

The announcement, which is expected within weeks and could come as early as Monday at the annual meeting of his scientific institute in San Diego, California, will herald a giant leap forward in the development of designer genomes. It is certain to provoke heated debate about the ethics of creating new species and could unlock the door to new energy sources and techniques to combat global warming.

Mr Venter told the Guardian he thought this landmark would be "a very important philosophical step in the history of our species. We are going from reading our genetic code to the ability to write it. That gives us the hypothetical ability to do things never contemplated before".

<snip-oh-snap!>

I personally don't have a problem with it so long as they don't just destroy it if it doesn't turn out the way they want.

This brings into my head something from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy--that animal that was designed to WANT to be eaten and would state so clearly and distinctly that was being served at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.

[jq]

I have mixed feelings on this. The only reason I would possibly be against it would have to do with abuse. And it is hard to tell when this kind of procedure would become what I consider abuse. But in essence, I believe that regardless of what the life looks like or is designed for, that it should be treated as something living. You know I am a big peta fan. I am for the ethical treatment of new creatures, too.


PS, do you remember when it was rumored (way back in the day) that the ps3 was going to have biological components? I wonder if that will end up being the case with the PS4......

[Kizzume]

Abuse is definitely a concern. Creating life just to destroy it is awful.

[Hackfest]

kizzume said:

Abuse is definitely a concern. Creating life just to destroy it is awful.

Let's hear it for abortion ladies and gentlemen! What? No clap emoticon?! GRRRR!

[Kizzume]

I'll see if I can get an icon like that...

I actually agree with you about that. I think abortion is AWFUL--but as I said in the abortion thread--until the technology exists.......

[jq]

hackfest said:

kizzume said:

Abuse is definitely a concern. Creating life just to destroy it is awful.

Let's hear it for abortion ladies and gentlemen! What? No clap emoticon?! GRRRR!

That was great parallelism. I hadn't thought of it that way. I'll agree that abortion is no fun. No fun at all!

[traditionalist]

kizzume said:

Abuse is definitely a concern. Creating life just to destroy it is awful.

In this case they're probably talking about creating certain types of bacteria, which could be used to perform a certain task such as cleaning up oil spills. I don't think it will be possible at this point to make animals for consumption. Bacteria are fairly simple, with only a single chromosome, while other organisms have multiple organisms.

[Kizzume]

That's good to know. That certainly would be a good thing if they could meet those goals, especially with all the poor oil rig driving that's happened lately.

[technocrat]

Do you cry when you use mouthwash? If "killing life" is wrong just because it's alive, regardless of its characteristics, then your morning hygiene routine is a virtual holocaust of epic proportions. So what if they kill it after they make it? As long as it cannot suffer and isn't intelligent. Labs kill tonnes of animals every year, many of which for minor research in addition to the important stuff. That's likely far mroe intelligent and aware than anything this guy will create in a laboratory.

[Kizzume]

You make a good point. I'm not sure why I feel the way I do about it. If there is something useful they could do with this life, it seems strange to kill it, but how useful they are is up to the people doing the research, I guess.

[technocrat]

I don't really think we should kill stuff for the sake of it, but I have a hard time getting worked up if the type of life isn't intelligent or aware it exists or can't feel pain. I think if it can feel pain, it should certainly have some moral consideration. I doubt that's the type of life they are talking about though. As someone said, it's probably very simple.

[Kizzume]

After learning what more of the applications for this could be, I think this is a very exciting new possibility.