The Cellar - 'Artificial life' breakthrough

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'Artificial life' breakthrough

Quote:

Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first living cell to be controlled entirely by synthetic DNA.

The researchers constructed a bacterium's "genetic software" and transplanted it into a host cell.

The resulting microbe then looked and behaved like the species "dictated" by the synthetic DNA.

The advance, published in Science, has been hailed as a scientific landmark, but critics say there are dangers posed by synthetic organisms.

Some also suggest that the potential benefits of the technology have been over-stated.

But the researchers hope eventually to design bacterial cells that will produce medicines and fuels and even absorb greenhouse gases.

The team was led by Dr Craig Venter of the J Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) in Maryland and California.

Craig Venter defends the synthetic living cell

He and his colleagues had previously made a synthetic bacterial genome, and transplanted the genome of one bacterium into another.

Now, the scientists have put both methods together, to create what they call a "synthetic cell", although only its genome is truly synthetic.

Dr Venter likened the advance to making new software for the cell.

The researchers copied an existing bacterial genome. They sequenced its genetic code and then used "synthesis machines" to chemically construct a copy.

Dr Venter told BBC News: "We've now been able to take our synthetic chromosome and transplant it into a recipient cell - a different organism.

"As soon as this new software goes into the cell, the cell reads [it] and converts into the species specified in that genetic code."

The new bacteria replicated over a billion times, producing copies that contained and were controlled by the constructed, synthetic DNA.

"This is the first time any synthetic DNA has been in complete control of a cell," said Dr Venter.

Link

So those Terminator movies aren't that far fetched after all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Ventner

It's alive! IT'S ALIIIIIIIVVVE! Mwahahaha!

Cool. They haven't managed mitochondria yet.

This isn't real until I read it in Scientific American...

What, Weekly World News not good enough for ya?

Last night I dreamed that my son's Legos had become self aware.

Why is this news. Artificial life has been around for over a year.
But it's called "Jersey Shore" on TV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint (Post 657745)

This isn't real until I read it in Scientific American...

Actually I thumbed through the latest Scientific American at the store on the way home from work, and yes, this is real.

Really? What's our next step?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnee123 (Post 657812)

Really? What's our next step?

We pump it full of AI so it can go through a rapid evolutionary process, develop its own conscious mind, and kill all of us inferior bio creatures.
:D
There.

Somebody made new tumblers. Put them in a lock. Changed how the lock works.

That is what created artificial life. They did not build a cell. They constructed proteins to change a cells function.

What makes this significant is that they constructed (synthesized) DNA the way they wanted. Now a cell can be 'reprogrammed'. Or changed just like tumblers are changed on a lock. Or a computer reprogrammed. The cell must be provided from somewhere. Then change cell 'programming' by chaining together the AGCT proteins. They synthesize a reprogramming protein.

This will get the emotional upset because somehow that gets spun into “they created life”.

This is cool because they "printed" the entire DNA double helix end to end, one molecule at a time, and it was viable (i.e. grew and divided into more cells which were also viable). No more messing about using viruses to inject a desired gene into an existing organism. We can make the whole thing from scratch.
Well, TW is right, they had to put the first DNA strand into an existing cell from which the nucleus had been stripped, but that was just to get it all going.
Next stop ... designer cells. Feed 'em sewage, have 'em turn it into bio-diesel or whatever. That kind of thing.
What could possibly go wrong? :borg:

....and so begins expected debate:

"Now Dr Venter believes organism, nicknamed Synthia, will pave the way for more complex creatures that can transform environmental waste into clean fuel, vaccinate against disease and soak up pollution."

VS

"But his development has also triggered debate over the ethics of “playing god” and the dangers of the new technology could pose in terms of biological hazards and warfare."

Ah! We the humans........

Now Dr. Ventner can make a tree.