artificial life, the last frontier (before what?)

[ebbtide176]

ok this should really be a sphincter exercise to all who like things just as they are, and even better- the way they used to be.... we can't stop progress, so we funded it. so far, the geneticists claim its for the good of mother earth:<br />

The first synthetic virus was assembled earlier this year by another team of researchers in the US.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2499119.stm

 

[snapperbait]

Re: artificial life, the last frontier (before what?)

Well, I'll sleep well now... (Read Nighmares of super synthetic viruses that will do us all in)...<br /><br />Definatly some BIG ethical questions here... SPOOKEY...

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: artificial life, the last frontier (before what?)

Oh yeah. They're always doing it for the good of humanity. Oddly enough, the same reason politicians give for running for office.

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: artificial life, the last frontier (before what?)

I am not as worried about this as some people because several deadly things have already been "created" by Science. Actually bringing things together and "creating" is what man does. We have done it as long as man has been around and this is just the next logical step. All research can and does fall under the good of society category. What ends up happening is somethimes things don't go the way you plan or better yet those with less lofty ideasl use it how they see fit. Try to imagine the first person to "create" fire by striking flint with an iron rock. What do you think others who learned of this feat thought of him. Or the creator of gunpowder. How about Atomic power a result of the A-Bomb projects. It goes both ways with science but those who do the research and lab work are always looked at as playing God and doing things they should not. Sometimes it works out and becomes a great and wonderful thing and others a terrible thing. Should we stop because of what could happen or perhaps the next time a person in a lab mixes this and that they cure cancer you be the judge.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: artificial life, the last frontier (before what?)

some day they'll be able to "engineer" a cell<br />that attacks and destroys cancer cells.<br />just get a shot and your cured forever.<br />we've been re-engineering genetics for years.<br />look at your dog for instance, cross breeding<br />to get a certain genetic code ain't much different.<br />same applies to most all fruits and vegetables we <br />eat today.<br />the downside is a little scary though I admit...