Manmade DGN Powers First Synthetic Cell - "On The order of splitting the atom or landing on the moon."

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Michio Kaku

Full Freep Article

http://www.freep.com/article/20100521/FEATURES08/100521018/Manmade-DNA-powers-world/-s-first-synthetic-cell

While such work can evoke images of Frankenstein-like scientific tinkering, it also is exciting hopes that it could eventually lead to new fuels, better ways to clean polluted water, faster vaccine production and more.

Is it really an artificial life form?

The inventors call it the world's first synthetic cell, although this initial step is more a re-creation of existing life — changing one simple type of bacterium into another — than a built-from-scratch kind.

But Maryland genome-mapping pioneer J. Craig Venter said his team's project paves the way for the ultimate, much harder goal: designing organisms that work differently from the way nature intended for a wide range of uses. Already he's working with ExxonMobil in hopes of turning algae into fuel.

"This is the first self-replicating species we've had on the planet whose parent is a computer," Venter told reporters.

And the report, being published today in the journal Science, is triggering excitement in this growing field of synthetic biology.

"It's been a long time coming, and it was worth the wait," said Dr. George Church, a Harvard Medical School genetics professor. "It's a milestone that has potential practical applications."

Following the announcement, President Barack Obama directed the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues he established last fall to make its first order of business a study of the milestone.

[Slogo]

can we makes manbearpig?

[Destroit]

can we makes manbearpig?

I bet that we can make a frog with four asses now. Manbearpig is just on the horizon, my friend.

I bet that we can make a frog with four asses now. Manbearpig is just on the horizon, my friend.

[Simon Bar Sinister]

what did DGN have to do with this?

[phee]

I am totally SERIOL

[torn asunder]

what did DGN have to do with this?

yeah i'm pretty confused by that too!?

[Reaper]

Can he make it so women can have big boobs when you want them to, and not big upon asking? I'm just curious.

[Slogo]

yeah i'm pretty confused by that too!?

If I'm not mistaken we're all getting superpowers!

[phee]

If I'm not mistaken we're all getting superpowers!

Getting?

[SomeDanGuy]

Awesome project. The whole genome synthesized in a machine. (But still implanted into a pre-existing cell with all the various machinery ready).