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Bacteria Made to Behave as Computers
hende_jman writes "Scientists at Princeton University successfully 'programmed bacteria to behave like computers, assembling themselves into complex shapes based on instructions stuffed into their genes.' Though applications may not come for awhile, the article says that in the future this technology may be used in devices to detect bioterrorism chemicals. The article also has pictures of the programmed E. coli."
Though applications may not come for awhile, the article says that in the future this technology may be used in devices to detect bioterrorism chemicals.
Call me cynical, but I think this technology will be used in devices to make and control bioterrorism chemicals. And not necessarily by the "bad guys" either.
The researchers programmed E. coli bacteria to emit red or green fluorescent light in response to a signal emitted from another set of E. coli. The living cells were commanded to make a bull's-eye pattern, for example, around central cells based on communication between the bacteria. The bacteria "have an exquisite capability to sense molecules in the environment," he said.( Ron Weiss) "The bull's-eye could tell you: This is where the anthrax is."
Pretty fascinating stuff, stuff like bacteria and viruses have been kicking our asses for years really, sure antibiotics gave us a temporary edge, but now we have super dooper antibiotic resistant versions. All our approaches have really been hit and miss, but now we can develop and program our own little bacteria super soldiers and fight them on their own terms with intelligent strategy backing us up.
The rock, the vulture, and the chain
Well, someone yesterday made a comment about when they were in school, they were exhorted to list in their papers any military applications the technology might have in order to ensure securing additional research funding, etc. That was the first thing I thought of when I read "...this technology may be used in devices to detect bioterrorism chemicals."
Sounds we'll be seeing a lot of technology with terrorism-fighting potential for a while to come.
All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself. - Johann Sebastian Bach
Is it just me that wonders why science can run along happily trying to create in reality what science fiction has been creating decades before it, yet seemingly blatantly ignoring all the lessons that were there to be learned in the science fiction stories?
Seems like there is some conspiracy, but something tells me that its just stupid human tricks to do things to see if they can, then stand back and wonder why it all went wrong?
Yes, it would be good to have programmed virii that might devour an oil spill then die harmlessly, or bacteria that can be injected into a chemical spill to clean it up, or down an oil well to preprocess the crude to make it easily recoverd from the ground....
Its just that no one seems to be working on figuring out the dangers at the same time as people are working on the possibilities...
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Here's the flaw with that simple idea:
Viruses are simply encapsulated DNA with simple crap - they don't manufacture anything. Instead they use other cells to manufacture more of themselves. So a Virus for a Virus would mean for every bad virus in your system, you would need one anti manufactured. Anyevent, now if u had engineered bacteria that i guess would be the equivilant of a "honeypot" in that a viral latches on, but the engineered bacteria destroys incomming DNA etc. But then that would mean the bacteria would be very resistant to various forms of genetic therapy. Just imagine what would happen if the bacteria grew out of control (they need a food source), or mutated into something rlly bad. Do i need to elaborate?
Anyways, im more worried about new bacteria that is now resistant to antibacterial soap and such. Many of those strains are friggen hard to kill. Granted i could imagine engineering bacteria to kill this.
I know im just rambling on here, so lemme just sum up what would probably needed to be done to help ensure this new disease fighting bacteria doesn't become our worse nightmare:
Engineered life cycle, ie a counter for how many times the bacteria can reproduce
Possible activating agent? Have these bacteria only work if a certain protein is present, etc
Deactivating agent - simply again, something innate that can be introduced into the blood stream that would cause the bacteria to dismantle itself.
The odds of the bacteria mutating such that the life cycle and the deactivating agent is ignored before the life cycle is expired would hopefully be enough. Then also consider your body's natural immune system,
I have no clue how long it would be before bioengineers can do all this, but it is most exiciting
Seriously... I hate to get off topic, but it seems like more and more new technologies are jumping on the 'terrorist detection' bandwagon when they lack more practical applications. I especially love the part where they specify "bioterrorism chemicals" or whatever, as if a primitive computer made of organic cells can detect them any better than a computer with a crapload of transistors can simply because of their biological nature.
Hey, I've invented a great new device that can also be used as an anti-bioterror device! I call it a "dog," and with its evolved processor (A "brain" as some like to call it) it can monitor and detect chemical and biological agents with a special probe called a "nose." Give me money!
Yes, you guys have it so rough.
Idiots. If only the Vietnamese could shed a tear for your pain. You know, if fucking Agent Orange hadn't fucking burned their fucking tear ducts.
The US govt will piss any amount of money at "Homeland Security". To get a slice of the action you just need to draw some tentative link between your new technology and the "War on terrorism".
Engineering is the art of compromise.
The United States of America are very involved in terrorism. Osama Bin Laden was trained in terrorism by the CIA. That's not "tin foil hat" talk, that's a known, admitted-by-the-CIA fact. The U.S. government has also been the force that got Pappa Doc, Manuel Noriega, and the Shah of Iran into power, just to name a few. These are verified, undisputed (by the government - hotly disputed by the "US can do no wrong" crowd) facts, not liberal propaganda. Even in Afghanistan, the Taliban was able to gain control because the people couldn't tolerate the warlords empowered by the CIA to fight the Russians. The same warlords placed back in power during the "liberation" of Afghanistan.
As for proof, there are plenty of records of this, available from the government itself through the Freedom of Information Act. The government freely admits to doing these things, and use the mistakes they made in the past to justify making the same mistakes again today. "We shouldn't have done that, but now they hate us so we have to kick their butts again" is standard operating procedure. That's not liberal hogwash - that's known fact - undisputed by anyone except a few obsessive nationalists like yourself.
The US government has sponsored and trained terrorists for over 40 years, all in the name of "peace" and "democracy". I'm not saying this because I hate America, but because I am an American patriot who believes in what the Constitution. The American government has enabled, encouraged, and full on participated in atrocities when ever the powers-that-be have decided it was expedient.
I don't condone terrorism, no matter who's committing it. But do you really think people would be willing to die just to hurt the US without any reason? Terrorism is the price America pays for it's hubris. While our pride and unrelenting arrogance don't justify terrorism, they are the root cause of it.
People like you, who throw out logic and compassion in exchange for jingoistic egotism are what is ruining the country I love. You are the people who talk about bringing Democracy to the world when we don't even truly have it in the US. The government brags about bringing "fair and impartial" elections to Iraq, because they can't brag about having them here in the US.
A true American Patriot follows his own morals, not his president. If your morals align with our current governments, then you are a traitor to the very ideals that are supposed to set us above all the commies and terrorists.
Tommy
BTW, I could have just modded you down for trolling, but I don't want people in other counties to think that most of America are as screwed up as you. It seemed more important to let people know that most Americans think you are an asshat. Unfortunately, after two illegal and constitutionally invalid elections most Americans have realized that "the people" no longer run America.Open Source for Open Minds
"Though applications may not come for awhile, the article says that in the future this technology may be used in devices to detect bioterrorism chemicals." Come on, do we really need to have the terrorism angle pointed out for every new technology that comes along??? It's BS to get science funding cause apparently the only R&D budget the U.S. still subsidizes is military and anti-terrorism. I swear, it's only a matter of time before people start trying to claim research into the drag coefficient of sheep over various surfaces (See: http://www.improbable.com/ig/ig-pastwinners.html#i g2003Ignobel Awards ) qualifies as an anti-terrorism expenditure.
I'm sorry, man, but neither I nor the MAJORITY of Americans in this country are buying it. Take a look at our president -- he's your president too, you know. He's being a leader and it's up to you to be part of the solution, not part of the whining, complaining problem. MOST AMERICANS think like I do, and put the president back in power because he's doing a good job, and we'll put the next Republican in power because he'll do a good job too.
btw, your post had no links, so you'll pardon me if I call bullshit on your claims.
your herd mentality is precisely why a bio/nuclear attack in the USA is inevitable.
just a matter of time. you'll whine then too.
Which was a good idea. I cannot speak for my whole country (Belgium, which has problems of its own, btw), let alone _all_ other countries of course. But the US are seen as ignorant navel-gazers who are surprised that terrorist attack them, and go and reinforce what THEY (U.S.) think is right, as a 'police of the world'. Attacking other countries under false pretences, holding prisoners without trial for years, not caring about treaties, not caring about shooting former hostages (Guiliana), just because that is part of their policital agenda. And then the US is surprised that nobody loves them.
So it is nice to see some Americans remember what democracy and freedom it was all about...
No, they don't hate us 'for our freedom.' But they also don't hate us for opposing the USSR. They hate us because we won't submit to their bloody, violent, backwards, worthless piece of crap religion. Islam has the goal of world domination and we are the targets because we won't submit to enslavement.
"He's being a leader and it's up to you to be part of the solution, not part of the whining, complaining problem."
Wrong. As a citizen, my only responsibility is to my country, not to any of its (temporary) leaders. I'll do what I think is best for the USA, even that means opposing current leadership.
Now that I think of it, you've got things almost completely backwards. The citizenry of the United States has no responsibility whatsoever to be loyal to the President. The President, however, *does* have a responsibilty to be loyal to the citizenry. After all, we put him there to act on our behalf and for our benefit.
And he doesn't seem to be doing that very well.
Bullshit. They hate us because they don't want us stopping them from making Muslims submit to Wahabbism -- or at least what Wahabbists want for government.