So, Craig Venter has created artificial DNA, inserted it into a bacterium shell, and it's reproducing, so it's basically alive.
Pharyngula gives a comprehensive and comprehensible account of the science, and he thinks it's a breakthrough, safe, and ethical. So it's fine by me.
The possibilities are endless. Like the long-fabled nanotech, we can design bacteria to produce efficient and non-polluting fuel, produce nutrients and fertilisers, and ones to clean up our disgusting pollution. These things won't be easy and there'll be safety challenges along the way, but there really is no down side, as long as everyone behaves responsibly.
Oh, and to those whingers talking about 'playing God', why not? There isn't really a god, so the situation's vacant.
1 comment:
"...as long as everyone behaves responsibly." Ay, there's the rub.
Cynical me says that this could go the way of pharma, where a beneficial application of this technology will be weighed against its profitability. We'll see...
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