“Heralding a new era in biology, scientists for the first time have created a synthetic cell, completely controlled by man-made genetic instructions, which can survive and reproduce itself, researchers at the private J. Craig Venter Institute announced Thursday.”
Rest is here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703559004575256470152341984.html?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLETopStories
Good!
But it’s not fully synthetic yet. No one has any idea how to create the organelles.
In any case: notice this was made by a private company, not a large government funded university, based on business expectations.
John Jewkes’ Sources of Invention gets another example demonstrating its thesis is correct.
We are on the verge of very strange times. I believe that the world our great-grandchildren live in will be more different from the world of today than the world of today is from the world our great-grandparents grew up in (I am speaking as a young adult).
Clayton -
“In any case: notice this was made by a private company, not a large government funded university, based on business expectations.”
Good point. What does John Jewkes’ Sources of Invention say?
“We are on the verge of very strange times. I believe that the world our great-grandchildren live in will be more different from the world of today than the world of today is from the world our great-grandparents grew up in (I am speaking as a young adult).”
Your right, did you see this on Stephan Kinsella’s blog:
http://www.stephankinsella.com/2010/05/18/who-owns-you-a-documentary-trailer/
Jewkes argued that the claim–that the technologist cannot anymore work, because of the complexity of further innovation, without large government funds and a facility offered by research universities–is not true.
The small team with private funding and practical concerns can still yield important innovations, because one technology creates market demand for another technology, so government subsidy is not required because of the scope of technological research fixed costs.
Thurs. 10/05/20 16:12 EDT
.post #98
[url=Scientists Create First Synthetic Cell - #4 by viresh_amin]
The Sources of Invention, an overview.
I’m not usually one to impede progress, but I read three sentences of that article and wished the discovery had never been made. Just what mankind needs: “the ability to craft an entire organism.” Strange times indeed…I will add reasoning/evidence soon.
What if, down the road someone creates an entire synthetic intelligent life form? How will that be delt with legally?
I’m sure there are some thoughts on it. Anyone know any articles?
Here’s an article on Neanderthal rights, if they’re ever brought back: http://reason.com/archives/2009/02/17/neanderthal-rights
Another step towards the Star Trekian atomic Replicator! We might yet abandon the pursuit of wealth and move onward simply to a pursuit of happiness! Hah.
“The small team with private funding and practical concerns can still yield important innovations, because one technology creates market demand for another technology, so government subsidy is not required because of the scope of technological research fixed costs.”
Is that like a “technological” form of Say’s Law?
Interesting article.
“No one has any idea how to create the organelles.”
With synthetic DNA, an existing cell, and the necessary environment, of course.
Say bye-bye to friggin cancer