http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070820/ap_on_sc/artificial_lifeWASHINGTON - Around the world, a handful of scientists are trying to create life from scratch and they're getting closer. Experts expect an announcement within three to 10 years from someone in the now little-known field of "wet artificial life." That first cell of synthetic life — made from the basic chemicals in DNA — may not seem like much to non-scientists. "Creating protocells has the potential to shed new light on our place in the universe," Bedau said. "This will remove one of the few fundamental mysteries about creation in the universe and our role."And several scientists believe man-made life forms will one day offer the potential for solving a variety of problems, from fighting diseases to locking up greenhouse gases to eating toxic waste.Bedau figures there are three major hurdles to creating synthetic life:• A container, or membrane, for the cell to keep bad molecules out, allow good ones, and the ability to multiply.• A genetic system that controls the functions of the cell, enabling it to reproduce and mutate in response to environmental changes.• A metabolism that extracts raw materials from the environment as food and then changes it into energy.His idea is that once the container is made, if scientists add nucleotides in the right proportions, then Darwinian evolution could simply take over. "We aren't smart enough to design things, we just let evolution do the hard work and then we figure out what happened," Szostak said.In Gainesville, Fla., Steve Benner, a biological chemist at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution is attacking that problem by going outside of natural genetics. Normal DNA consists of four bases — adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine (known as A,C,G,T) — molecules that spell out the genetic code in pairs. Benner is trying to add eight new bases to the genetic alphabet.Bedau said there are legitimate worries about creating life that could "run amok," but there are ways of addressing it, and it will be a very long time before that is a problem.
Artificial Life Soon?
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http://physorg.com/news106489930.htmlFor the first time, scientists have completely transformed a species of bacteria into another species by transplanting its complete set of DNA. The achievement marks a significant step toward the construction of synthetic life, with applications including the production of clean fuel in as little as a decade. Scientists Carole Lartigue and colleagues from the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Maryland, have published their results in a recent issue of Science. In addition to being a proof-of-concept experiment, the researchers hope that genome transplantation will enable the production of synthetic microbes for green energy sources, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and textiles.The scientists’ results show that it is possible to transplant the complete set of DNA—the genome—from one species into the genome of a different species, so that the recipient organism is phenotypically and genotypically identical to the donor organism. The researchers explained that the transplantation method is simple in concept, though complicated to execute. The scientists aren’t sure of the mechanism behind the transplant, but they have ruled out natural methods of DNA transformation, such as recombination. They suspect that cell fusion may play an important role in mediating the transplant due to the optimal concentrations of fusion solution. However, they do not know if other species will be able to transfer their complete DNA using the same method. The researchers are excited about the success of the first genome transplantation because it marks a step toward the propagation of synthetic genomes. In previous studies, Craig Venter and his colleagues have defined a minimal genome of approximately 400 genes required to sustain cellular life. The scientists want to synthesize this genome, called Mycoplasma genitalium, using only simple chemicals. “To better enable rational design of new species of microbes capable of efficiently producing molecules that can solve human needs for energy, health and bioremediation, we believe we first need to better understand more fully how cells work,” Glass said. “We will use our genome transplantation technology to enliven this genome [M. genitalium] by transferring it into a suitable recipient cell. From that first ‘synthetic cell’ we will iteratively remake the genome in ever smaller simpler forms by deleting non-essential genes. Eventually we will produce cells containing only the essential set of genes necessary for life under laboratory conditions. These cells will be invaluable platforms for discovery of the biological roles of cellular components we currently can ascribe no function to or to components we may not even be aware of.” Synthetic biologists predict this research will have many applications, including production of clean alternative fuel in as little as 10 years. Venter has also set up a company called Synthetic Genomics to create alternative fuels, which could potentially be used in the same infrastructure as petroleum and be used in today’s vehicles. “We envision engineering bacteria to convert cellulosic material to ethanol, butanol, or perhaps long chain alcohols,” Glass explained. “Some microbes have the capacity to convert the carbohydrate polymers that comprise cellulose into glucose and other simple sugars. Other bacteria have the capacity to convert simple sugars into various fuels. We envision synthesizing new chimeric bacterial species that can efficiently do both.”
Hi Doppleganger,Please do not be taken in. For something to be synthetic it hassynthetic definition adj.1. Relating to, involving, or of the nature of synthesis.2. Chemistry Produced by synthesis, especially not of natural origin.3. a. Not natural or genuine; artificial or contrived: "counterfeit rhetoric that flourishes when passions are synthetic" (George F. Will).b. Prepared or made artificially: synthetic leather. See Synonyms at artificial.For life to be created synthetically the scientist would have to create it without use of dna or materials from the human body which are already part of lifes structure.Note that the DNA did not give the body life.Genesis 2:7-8 (King James Version) 7.And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8.And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.The life in man came from the breath of God. God did not create the world out of something which already existed, e created man and the earth from nothing. Then the life in man was from God own mouth. Life in the dna comes from God not the dna itself. But we also need to remember that if you take part of a plant you can make a new plant from it. For man to make a synthetic life he would have to start from scratch as God did, using nothing that God has made.So often scientist try to blind us with science but the true source of life in the world came from God our Father.Love Faithful.
Yes, yes, can we move past the "I'm a Christian living in a Box and try and talk about the subject." For example extending lifespans, etc ... Yes, its synthetic, yes its contrived and man-made, yes only God can create life from nothing. Or as some Jews claim, bring Order from Chaos. I don't know about you but I find it interesting. I could have bashed it, or posted a article say on "The Ever Changing Theory of Evolution." http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/viewnews.php?id=102229http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6937476.stmI was hoping you were a little more opened minded, not just throwing verses at everything that is posted. Besides these are very newsworthy articles!
(ÐøÞÞlégäñgèr;15375)
Yes, yes, can we move past the "I'm a Christian living in a Box and try and talk about the subject." For example extending lifespans, etc ... Yes, its synthetic, yes its contrived and man-made, yes only God can create life from nothing. Or as some Jews claim, bring Order from Chaos. I don't know about you but I find it interesting. I could have bashed it, or posted a article say on "The Ever Changing Theory of Evolution." http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/viewnews.php?id=102229http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6937476.stmI was hoping you were a little more opened minded, not just throwing verses at everything that is posted. Besides these are very newsworthy articles!
The Kingdom of God is based on truth and love not ifs' but's or maybe's.You would do better looking for the spiritual things in the Lord they are far more interesting.
:angel9:
Yes, yes, can we move past the "I'm a Christian living in a Box and try and talk about the subject." For example extending lifespans, etc ... Yes, its synthetic, yes its contrived and man-made, yes only God can create life from nothing. Or as some Jews claim, bring Order from Chaos. I don't know about you but I find it interesting. I could have bashed it, or posted a article say on "The Ever Changing Theory of Evolution." http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/viewnews.php?id=102229http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6937476.stmI was hoping you were a little more opened minded, not just throwing verses at everything that is posted. Besides these are very newsworthy articles!
The Kingdom of God is based on truth and love not ifs' but's or maybe's.You would do better looking for the spiritual things in the Lord they are far more interesting.
The Kingdom of God is based on truth and love not ifs' but's or maybe's.You would do better looking for the spiritual things in the Lord they are far more interesting.
These are ifs' but's or maybe's. God gave us a Brain. Maybe you should try using it! Yes, The Word is interesting, far more interesting than you!
These are ifs' but's or maybe's. God gave us a Brain. Maybe you should try using it! Yes, The Word is interesting, far more interesting than you!
(ÐøÞÞlégäñgèr;15444)
These are ifs' but's or maybe's. God gave us a Brain. Maybe you should try using it! Yes, The Word is interesting, far more interesting than you!
Doppleganger,But we were not discussing me or if I am interesting. In fact we were not even discussing if the word was interesting?Do try to keep up with the real issues. The issue is that we should not be discussing things that have no place in the true body of Christ or his teachings.
:angel9:
These are ifs' but's or maybe's. God gave us a Brain. Maybe you should try using it! Yes, The Word is interesting, far more interesting than you!
Doppleganger,But we were not discussing me or if I am interesting. In fact we were not even discussing if the word was interesting?Do try to keep up with the real issues. The issue is that we should not be discussing things that have no place in the true body of Christ or his teachings.
verzanumi24
Advanced Member
(ÐøÞÞlégäñgèr;15358)
http://physorg.com/news106489930.htmlFor the first time, scientists have completely transformed a species of bacteria into another species by transplanting its complete set of DNA. The achievement marks a significant step toward the construction of synthetic life, with applications including the production of clean fuel in as little as a decade. Scientists Carole Lartigue and colleagues from the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Maryland, have published their results in a recent issue of Science. In addition to being a proof-of-concept experiment, the researchers hope that genome transplantation will enable the production of synthetic microbes for green energy sources, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and textiles.The scientists’ results show that it is possible to transplant the complete set of DNA—the genome—from one species into the genome of a different species, so that the recipient organism is phenotypically and genotypically identical to the donor organism. The researchers explained that the transplantation method is simple in concept, though complicated to execute. The scientists aren’t sure of the mechanism behind the transplant, but they have ruled out natural methods of DNA transformation, such as recombination. They suspect that cell fusion may play an important role in mediating the transplant due to the optimal concentrations of fusion solution. However, they do not know if other species will be able to transfer their complete DNA using the same method. The researchers are excited about the success of the first genome transplantation because it marks a step toward the propagation of synthetic genomes. In previous studies, Craig Venter and his colleagues have defined a minimal genome of approximately 400 genes required to sustain cellular life. The scientists want to synthesize this genome, called Mycoplasma genitalium, using only simple chemicals. “To better enable rational design of new species of microbes capable of efficiently producing molecules that can solve human needs for energy, health and bioremediation, we believe we first need to better understand more fully how cells work,” Glass said. “We will use our genome transplantation technology to enliven this genome [M. genitalium] by transferring it into a suitable recipient cell. From that first ‘synthetic cell’ we will iteratively remake the genome in ever smaller simpler forms by deleting non-essential genes. Eventually we will produce cells containing only the essential set of genes necessary for life under laboratory conditions. These cells will be invaluable platforms for discovery of the biological roles of cellular components we currently can ascribe no function to or to components we may not even be aware of.” Synthetic biologists predict this research will have many applications, including production of clean alternative fuel in as little as 10 years. Venter has also set up a company called Synthetic Genomics to create alternative fuels, which could potentially be used in the same infrastructure as petroleum and be used in today’s vehicles. “We envision engineering bacteria to convert cellulosic material to ethanol, butanol, or perhaps long chain alcohols,” Glass explained. “Some microbes have the capacity to convert the carbohydrate polymers that comprise cellulose into glucose and other simple sugars. Other bacteria have the capacity to convert simple sugars into various fuels. We envision synthesizing new chimeric bacterial species that can efficiently do both.”
Interesting, but no matter what man does or try to do it will not be able to be compared to what God will accomplished in us.
http://physorg.com/news106489930.htmlFor the first time, scientists have completely transformed a species of bacteria into another species by transplanting its complete set of DNA. The achievement marks a significant step toward the construction of synthetic life, with applications including the production of clean fuel in as little as a decade. Scientists Carole Lartigue and colleagues from the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Maryland, have published their results in a recent issue of Science. In addition to being a proof-of-concept experiment, the researchers hope that genome transplantation will enable the production of synthetic microbes for green energy sources, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and textiles.The scientists’ results show that it is possible to transplant the complete set of DNA—the genome—from one species into the genome of a different species, so that the recipient organism is phenotypically and genotypically identical to the donor organism. The researchers explained that the transplantation method is simple in concept, though complicated to execute. The scientists aren’t sure of the mechanism behind the transplant, but they have ruled out natural methods of DNA transformation, such as recombination. They suspect that cell fusion may play an important role in mediating the transplant due to the optimal concentrations of fusion solution. However, they do not know if other species will be able to transfer their complete DNA using the same method. The researchers are excited about the success of the first genome transplantation because it marks a step toward the propagation of synthetic genomes. In previous studies, Craig Venter and his colleagues have defined a minimal genome of approximately 400 genes required to sustain cellular life. The scientists want to synthesize this genome, called Mycoplasma genitalium, using only simple chemicals. “To better enable rational design of new species of microbes capable of efficiently producing molecules that can solve human needs for energy, health and bioremediation, we believe we first need to better understand more fully how cells work,” Glass said. “We will use our genome transplantation technology to enliven this genome [M. genitalium] by transferring it into a suitable recipient cell. From that first ‘synthetic cell’ we will iteratively remake the genome in ever smaller simpler forms by deleting non-essential genes. Eventually we will produce cells containing only the essential set of genes necessary for life under laboratory conditions. These cells will be invaluable platforms for discovery of the biological roles of cellular components we currently can ascribe no function to or to components we may not even be aware of.” Synthetic biologists predict this research will have many applications, including production of clean alternative fuel in as little as 10 years. Venter has also set up a company called Synthetic Genomics to create alternative fuels, which could potentially be used in the same infrastructure as petroleum and be used in today’s vehicles. “We envision engineering bacteria to convert cellulosic material to ethanol, butanol, or perhaps long chain alcohols,” Glass explained. “Some microbes have the capacity to convert the carbohydrate polymers that comprise cellulose into glucose and other simple sugars. Other bacteria have the capacity to convert simple sugars into various fuels. We envision synthesizing new chimeric bacterial species that can efficiently do both.”
Interesting, but no matter what man does or try to do it will not be able to be compared to what God will accomplished in us.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/oct...s.climatechangehttp://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/octob...007creating.htmCraig 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.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".The DNA sequence is based on the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium which the team pared down to the bare essentials needed to support life, removing a fifth of its genetic make-up. The wholly synthetically reconstructed chromosome, which the team have christened Mycoplasma laboratorium, has been watermarked with inks for easy recognition.It is then transplanted into a living bacterial cell and in the final stage of the process it is expected to take control of the cell and in effect become a new life form. The team of scientists has already successfully transplanted the genome of one type of bacterium into the cell of another, effectively changing the cell's species. Mr Venter said he was "100% confident" the same technique would work for the artificially created chromosome.The new life form will depend for its ability to replicate itself and metabolise on the molecular machinery of the cell into which it has been injected, and in that sense it will not be a wholly synthetic life form. However, its DNA will be artificial, and it is the DNA that controls the cell and is credited with being the building block of life.He said Mr Venter was creating a "chassis on which you could build almost anything. It could be a contribution to humanity such as new drugs or a huge threat to humanity such as bio-weapons".Mr Venter believes designer genomes have enormous positive potential if properly regulated. In the long-term, he hopes they could lead to alternative energy sources previously unthinkable. Bacteria could be created, he speculates, that could help mop up excessive carbon dioxide, thus contributing to the solution to global warming, or produce fuels such as butane or propane made entirely from sugar. Mr Venter said he had carried out an ethical review before completing the experiment. "We feel that this is good science," he said. He has further heightened the controversy surrounding his potential breakthrough by applying for a patent for the synthetic bacterium.
Like anything else, there is the possibility to do good. Or do harm. We already splice genes in plants to make them more resistant to diseases. And transplant the DNA from an older woman's egg, into a younger woman's egg to assist with getting pregnant. And splice human DNA into bacteria to produce human identical chemicals, like insulin.My concern is that we will lose a sense of awe about life & the natural world. God gave us dominion over the earth & all it's creatures. But DNA & gene manipulation has opened doors to some troubling stuff.
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