Slashdot Mirror
Open source Digital Bacteria
FiReaNGeL writes "Scientists have constructed a software capable of simulating organisms at the molecular, single-cell and population levels. The program, called AgentCell, will soon be available, open sourced under a BSD license. "With AgentCell we can simulate the behavior of entire populations of cells as they sense their environment, respond to stimuli and move in a three-dimensional world". The researchers have designed their digital bacterial system in modules, so that additional components may be added later - "The hope is that people will modify the code or add some new capabilities". AgentCell has possible applications in cancer research, drug development and combating bioterrorism. Lots of movies and pictures are available, along with a detailed press release describing the program."
of bacteria in this world ...
Saying "Lots of movies and pictures are available" in a Slashdot article is like a death sentence to the poor server running the site...
It seems that Windows users receive free copies of stuff like this each time they connect to the Internet and get their mail.
That, and news on free "sword sharpeners", if ya get my meaning.
I remember the old game of "Life" that simulated growth with very simple rules. Sounds like the game has grown up.
Vos teneo officium eram periculosus ut vos recipero is.
Seems to just be a more realistic version of something like PolyWorld. Still quite interesting.
:)
If you want a "AI" that borders on a consciousness, you don't want to start at this level - that's way too much work. You want to algorithmicly be simulating entire cells or even groups of cells at once, instead of components of cells. The higher up you can shift the behavior, the more computation you can get done.
Hmm... this may tempt me to play with Framsticks and Avida some more.
We should start dealing in those black-market beagles.
As if Windows didn't have to deal with enough computer viruses, now it has to deal with computer bacteria as well.
multifariam.net -- yet another nerd blog
Bacteria may be the only culture some people have.
I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
And just how do we know our entire reality isn't simply a large scale version of this? Is our universe simply the inside of a box? Does it even matter?
Well, first, no - if we're in a giant box, and the laws of physics defined therein cause us to see and experience what we're seeing and experiencing, then... no. That's the framework of our universe. We can't operate outside of that framework, so kvetching about it isn't very productive.
And second, you'll be getting the munchies very soon, I'm guessing.
Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
Anybody know the cure for digital chlamydia?
I networked with this infected computer and didnt have my firewall turned on.
"For instance, if you mix a pathogenic strain with a friendly strain, which one is going to win, and with what kind of speed?"
I can't wait until this becomes an actual game:
"Cell-Wars 3D. Engineer your own pathogens and destroy up to 5000 different types of organisms! Experience multiplayer action over the Internet in a race to be the quickest and most destructive pathogen.
Be sure to enter in our annual contest. The winner will get to see their pathogen recreated in real life by our molecular engineers and injected into a mouse! Total insane action!"
If you want a "AI" that borders on a consciousness, you don't want to start at this level - that's way too much work. You want to algorithmicly be simulating entire cells or even groups of cells at once, instead of components of cells.
Except for one problem: You're assuming that we actually know how the brain functions. Neural networks are interesting, but to date they've failed to show the levels of intelligence of a comparable animal. On top of that, they don't actually model the brain's neural patterns correctly.
Experiments at a lower level may produce greater insight, especially if we're missing something tricky such as encoded waveforms in neural pulses. Lower level simulations would allow us to explore the differences between the simulation and the real thing, thus producing loads of data on things we might be missing.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
Alice: Yeah...make sure we stick 'combat terrorism' in there somewhere. That'll make sure we get the cash.
Bob: Oooh ooh...and maybe the frontpage on some reputable internet discussion board *cough*.
-Nano.
I'd put money on this work being completely bogus. There's quite a bit of funding going to researchers from Fath^H^H^H^HHomeland Security. I'm pretty astonished by the types of reserach these people are doing which really has no practical applications whatsoever. But on paper it makes it look like the department are investing in our security. This sounds like a prime example of such a project. There simply isn't a situation involving bacteria that is both (1) something we can model on a computer and (2) relevant to combating bioterrorism. Sure, we might be able to qualitatively model a population in a petri dish, but that has nothing whatsoever to do with the reality of a terrorist releasing bacteria into the atmosphere, say. But the ignorant politicians working at the department have no way of understanding this for themselves and fund it anyway. Remember, these are the same people who think this is useful.
So...politicans might be taken in by BS about the applications of these methods, but there's no need for /. readers to be decieved the same way.
Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.