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Open Source, Genetically Engineered Machines From a Kit?
An anonymous reader writes "Students in an MIT competition are helping to build a dev-kit for cells. Together with synthetic biologists, they're building a Registry of Standard Biological Parts called BioBricks. They aim to do for cells what open source software has done for computers. 'The competition is a showcase for the burgeoning field of synthetic biology. Knight and his colleagues Randy Rettberg and Drew Endy, who created the contest in 2004, want to make biological systems easy to build by applying the tools of computer science and engineering: using standard parts and modular design to simplify complex systems. The goal is to create "genetic Legos" that could produce any chemical, from ethanol to pharmaceuticals.'"
Sweet. I can think of a few.
thegodmovie.com - watch it
BioBricks? But 'Plasmid' and 'tonic' have such nicer rings to them...
I just hope that these basic "programming" blocks do not turn out to be Windows.
Now that they've released it under open source, God is going to sue them for copyright infringement.
It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
Announcer: Hey kids! How would you like a chemistry set for Christmas?
Kids: BOR-ING!
Announcer: A ray gun?
Kids: BOR-ING!
Announcer: How about the new amazing Bio-Bricks!
Kids: COOL!!!!!
Announcer voice-over with kids in background hunched over a petri dish full of Bio-Bricks: With Bio-Bricks your kids will have hours upon hours of enjoyment creating new life forms. Bio-Bricks are available at fine genetic research supply stores everywhere.
Announcer reading legal disclaimer:
Neither the International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition, MIT, Bejing University, or the government of China is responsible for improper use of Bio-Bricks. Serious injury, mutations, illness, death, or the end of life on Earth may result from improper use of Bio-Bricks. Using Bio-Bricks to create dangerous life forms is not recommended. Adult supervision required.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
Oh please. They already have microbes that do that. They're called "yeast".
I'd be more interested in a more complex molecule...like, say, C20H25N3O. ^_^
____
~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey
That's okay, it won't be long now before you can grow a copy of his face to stick this paper into.
My daughter was born three months ago. My wife jokes, "She won't be allowed to date until she's 25!" I always add, "Yeah, and not until after she gets a PhD in Programmable Genetics..."
:)
I was only half kidding. Now I'm not kidding at all.
I wouldn't worry too much about that. While most of humanity would be wiped out, Bruce Willis would survive, enabling the scientists to send him back in time to find the origin of the virus. They'll then be able to create a vaccine and we'll be able to live on the surface again.
We should probably check with him that he didn't see anyone get shot dead at an airport when he was a kid though, as it might mean something tragic.
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
...I, for one, welocme our synthetic Bio-Lego-lical overlords!
See that long UID - that's what you get for lurking too long