Well, it's happened.

A team of 20 scientists has created life from non living matter. It took 10 years and 40 million dollars. The single celled organism has it's own unique DNA and can reproduce like any other organism.

Like "ALL" discoveries (without exception), it can be used for good or bad. We "ALL" know that, or should know. Therefore this discussion is NOT about whether it's a good or bad moment in history. We all know the arguments on both sides (or should know)...... so people please spare us countless pages of ideological, political or religious "opinion". If that's what you want then please start another topic.

I'm posting this topic so that interested participants can discuss the science involved and the likely ramifications regarding industry, medicine, fuels, the environment etc etc etc.

I consider this moment to be the most significant moment in the history of mankind. Humanity is now embarking on it's most significant divergence ever. Our existence is now **FOREVER** altered.

The ramifications of our ability to create new life will not be fully evident to the "person on the street" for decades yet. By the end of this century, as a result of this discovery, we will have no need for any fossil fuel whatsoever ....... the entire world (and our presence beyond this world) will be powered by synthetic energy. Space exploration by astronauts to anywhere will be a reality ......... generations after generations will be spending their entire lives in space exploring the universe.

Mankind will never be the same again.

Right now, this week, mankind is living in the most significant moment that we have ever experienced. The most significant discovery of all time has just happened.

But life for the next 10 or 20 years or so will just go on as normal. People will see no difference in their day to day lives. But your children and grandchildren will be living in a vastly altered world.

If the facts are as reported this truly is a monumental moment in biogenetics. When I first heard this story I sat there open mouthed… Not only because of the magnitude of this story but also on how it was buried amongst other news trivialities while a politicians visit to a gay sauna was trumpeted as the news headlines.

Cheers
Jack
(Head Yak)
The Ministry Of Cynical Supposition
http://www.mocs.com.au

It should be pointed out that this is not the manufacturing of new life from scratch. It's also not the creation of a different life form. It's the creation of an organism with a synthesised natural genome. It's a major advance forward and builds on past achievements.

This is just the beginning. The scientists copied the DNA from one species of bacteria and inserted it into another. Result ....... new life, that reproduces in the normal way, with 100% of the new DNA. It's only a matter of time till new life is created from scratch ...... probably before the end of this century.

I'd like to point out we have a celebrity - of sorts - in our midst. Welcome Yakovich. Big fan. Unless, of course, you're an imposter...then... o.O

As for the topic. Yeah, amazing stuff, now let's see how we can kill people with this one.

Interesting post smithy, I wonder what the ramifications will be or how this science will be applied.

The first thing that came to mind, was if this technology could be used to create organs for those needing transplants or to create cells necessry to treat some diseases like Parkinson's or MS.

One article mentioned the possibility of applying it to making biofuels - that may solve the land use fuel vs food problems.

It is fascinating that there is so much hype about humans generating a simple life form from inorganic matter. That happened billions of years ago by natural processes and nature forces have moved on from there. even human beings evolved in that process!
All this 'advance' has done is reinforce the view that humans are prepared to wander into the unknown for some very uncertain gains and possibly unintended consequences. Of course, the perpetraters of this 'advance' gain money and celebrity status.