smart scientists do smart shit thus makin the rest of us feel primitive and of no use

ni'k · 05.20.2010, 01:55 PM

...to the species.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_a...t/10132762.stm

Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell.
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.
The researchers hope eventually to design bacterial cells that will produce medicines and fuels and even absorb greenhouse gases.

This is the first time any synthetic DNA has been in complete control of a cell

Dr Craig Venter J Craig Venter Institute
The team was led by Dr Craig Venter of the J Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) in Maryland and California.
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.
'New industrial revolution' Dr Venter and his colleagues hope eventually to design and build new bacteria that will perform useful functions.
"I think they're going to potentially create a new industrial revolution," he said.
"If we can really get cells to do the production that we want, they could help wean us off oil and reverse some of the damage to the environment by capturing carbon dioxide."
Dr Venter and his colleagues are already collaborating with pharmaceutical and fuel companies to design and develop chromosomes for bacteria that would produce useful fuels and new vaccines.
But critics say that the potential benefits of synthetic organisms have been overstated.
Dr Helen Wallace from Genewatch UK, an organisation that monitors developments in genetic technologies, told BBC News that synthetic bacteria could be dangerous.
"If you release new organisms into the environment, you can do more harm than good," she said.
"By releasing them into areas of pollution, [with the aim of cleaning it up], you're actually releasing a new kind of pollution.
"We don't know how these organisms will behave in the environment."
Dr Wallace accused Dr Venter of playing down the potential drawbacks.
"He isn't God," she said, "he's actually being very human; trying to get money invested in his technology and avoid regulation that would restrict its use."
But Dr Venter said that he was "driving the discussions" about the regulations governing this relatively new scientific field and about the ethical implications of the work.

The risks are unparalleled, we need safety evaluation for this kind of radical research and protections from military or terrorist misuse

Julian Savulescu Oxford University ethics professor
He said: "In 2003, when we made the first synthetic virus, it underwent an extensive ethical review that went all the way up to the level of the White House.
"And there have been extensive reviews including from the National Academy of Sciences, which has done a comprehensive report on this new field.
"We think these are important issues and we urge continued discussion that we want to take part in."
Dr Gos Micklem, a geneticist from the University of Cambridge, said that the advance was "undoubtedly a landmark" study.
But, he said, "there is already a wealth of simple, cheap, powerful and mature techniques for genetically engineering a range of organisms. Therefore, for the time being, this approach is unlikely to supplant existing methods for genetic engineering".
The ethical discussions surrounding the creation of synthetic or artificial life are set to continue.
Professor Julian Savulescu, from the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford, said the potential of this science was "in the far future, but real and significant".
"But the risks are also unparalleled," he continued. "We need new standards of safety evaluation for this kind of radical research and protections from military or terrorist misuse and abuse.
"These could be used in the future to make the most powerful bioweapons imaginable. The challenge is to eat the fruit without the worm."

__________________________________

wow. im sure some of the scienticians on here can shed some more light on this, lest we get edgy and start burnin' them for witchcraft again. what are all those channels of static for on my magic box? is that were satan speaks to you? IS IT?

dale_gribble · 05.20.2010, 02:07 PM

space · 05.20.2010, 02:08 PM

to me, witchcraft and science are the same damn things.

(fucking with cells could have greater usefulness and danger than fucking with the atom)

infinitemusic · 05.20.2010, 02:58 PM

I love it when scientists do incredibly dangerous things despite public outcry, forever altering the world negatively. I love it even more when they do it in secret.

Dr. Eugene Felikson · 05.20.2010, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by space

to me, witchcraft and science are the same damn things.

Forget about phoenix. Let's fuck.

space · 05.20.2010, 04:06 PM

I could never! I'm off to dream of her while I walk, shower and then go to the post office.

today's package includes:

pen/watercolor voodou veve's (Papa Legba, Le Sirene & La Baleine, Orisha Jess'm -offerings included)
pencil/watercolor pictograph (Holy Ghost - Canyonlands, Utah)
pictures that I've taken of the Temple of Kukulcan and El Caracol, Chichen Itza
1 fossilized ammonite impression (an additional offering to La Sirene)
my autobiography (circa 05/23/85)
Wayne's copy of In A Priest Driven Ambulance
UFO/alien toys
green quartz shard
Stray Toasters (issue #2)

nicfit · 05.20.2010, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by space

I could never! I'm off to dream of her while I walk, shower and then go to the post office.

today's package includes:

pen/watercolor voodou veve's (Papa Legba, Le Sirene & La Baleine, Orisha Jess'm -offerings included)
pencil/watercolor pictograph (Holy Ghost - Canyonlands, Utah)
pictures that I've taken of the Temple of Kukulcan and El Caracol, Chichen Itza
1 fossilized ammonite impression (an additional offering to La Sirene)
my autobiography (circa 05/23/85)
Wayne's copy of In A Priest Driven Ambulance
UFO/alien toys
green quartz shard
Stray Toasters (issue #2)

I'm SO disappointed...

space · 05.20.2010, 04:46 PM

why because it's missing the mucha lucha?

speaking of, you may need to send me a moneyorder...or sumptin'. dunno.

05.20.2010, 01:55 PM	#1
ni'k invito al cielo Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,360	...to the species. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_a...t/10132762.stm Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell. 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. The researchers hope eventually to design bacterial cells that will produce medicines and fuels and even absorb greenhouse gases. This is the first time any synthetic DNA has been in complete control of a cell Dr Craig Venter J Craig Venter Institute The team was led by Dr Craig Venter of the J Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) in Maryland and California. 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. 'New industrial revolution' Dr Venter and his colleagues hope eventually to design and build new bacteria that will perform useful functions. "I think they're going to potentially create a new industrial revolution," he said. "If we can really get cells to do the production that we want, they could help wean us off oil and reverse some of the damage to the environment by capturing carbon dioxide." Dr Venter and his colleagues are already collaborating with pharmaceutical and fuel companies to design and develop chromosomes for bacteria that would produce useful fuels and new vaccines. But critics say that the potential benefits of synthetic organisms have been overstated. Dr Helen Wallace from Genewatch UK, an organisation that monitors developments in genetic technologies, told BBC News that synthetic bacteria could be dangerous. "If you release new organisms into the environment, you can do more harm than good," she said. "By releasing them into areas of pollution, [with the aim of cleaning it up], you're actually releasing a new kind of pollution. "We don't know how these organisms will behave in the environment." Dr Wallace accused Dr Venter of playing down the potential drawbacks. "He isn't God," she said, "he's actually being very human; trying to get money invested in his technology and avoid regulation that would restrict its use." But Dr Venter said that he was "driving the discussions" about the regulations governing this relatively new scientific field and about the ethical implications of the work. The risks are unparalleled, we need safety evaluation for this kind of radical research and protections from military or terrorist misuse Julian Savulescu Oxford University ethics professor He said: "In 2003, when we made the first synthetic virus, it underwent an extensive ethical review that went all the way up to the level of the White House. "And there have been extensive reviews including from the National Academy of Sciences, which has done a comprehensive report on this new field. "We think these are important issues and we urge continued discussion that we want to take part in." Dr Gos Micklem, a geneticist from the University of Cambridge, said that the advance was "undoubtedly a landmark" study. But, he said, "there is already a wealth of simple, cheap, powerful and mature techniques for genetically engineering a range of organisms. Therefore, for the time being, this approach is unlikely to supplant existing methods for genetic engineering". The ethical discussions surrounding the creation of synthetic or artificial life are set to continue. Professor Julian Savulescu, from the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford, said the potential of this science was "in the far future, but real and significant". "But the risks are also unparalleled," he continued. "We need new standards of safety evaluation for this kind of radical research and protections from military or terrorist misuse and abuse. "These could be used in the future to make the most powerful bioweapons imaginable. The challenge is to eat the fruit without the worm." __________________________________ wow. im sure some of the scienticians on here can shed some more light on this, lest we get edgy and start burnin' them for witchcraft again. what are all those channels of static for on my magic box? is that were satan speaks to you? IS IT?
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05.20.2010, 02:07 PM	#2
dale_gribble 100% Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: the space between dreams and reality Posts: 666	werd __________________
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05.20.2010, 02:08 PM	#3
space expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,553	to me, witchcraft and science are the same damn things. (fucking with cells could have greater usefulness and danger than fucking with the atom)
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05.20.2010, 02:58 PM	#4
infinitemusic the destroyed room Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 569	I love it when scientists do incredibly dangerous things despite public outcry, forever altering the world negatively. I love it even more when they do it in secret.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

05.20.2010, 04:06 PM	#6
space expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,553	I could never! I'm off to dream of her while I walk, shower and then go to the post office. today's package includes: pen/watercolor voodou veve's (Papa Legba, Le Sirene & La Baleine, Orisha Jess'm -offerings included) pencil/watercolor pictograph (Holy Ghost - Canyonlands, Utah) pictures that I've taken of the Temple of Kukulcan and El Caracol, Chichen Itza 1 fossilized ammonite impression (an additional offering to La Sirene) my autobiography (circa 05/23/85) Wayne's copy of In A Priest Driven Ambulance UFO/alien toys green quartz shard Stray Toasters (issue #2)
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

05.20.2010, 04:46 PM	#8
space expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,553	why because it's missing the mucha lucha? speaking of, you may need to send me a moneyorder...or sumptin'. dunno.
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