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Scientists Build Possibly The First Man-Made Genome
hackingbear writes "Wired is reporting that researchers have created the longest synthetic genome to date by threading together four long strands of DNA. 'Leading synthetic biologists said with the new work, published Thursday in the journal Science, the first synthetic life could be just months away — if it hasn't been created already. [...] The ability to synthesize longer DNA strands for less money parallels the history of genetic sequencing, where the price of sequencing a human genome has dropped from hundreds of millions of dollars to about $10,000. Just a few years ago, synthesizing a piece of DNA with 5,000 rungs in its helix, known as base-pairs, was impossible. Venter's new synthetic genome is 582,000 base-pairs.' As a programmer, I'm most excited by the possibility of a new platform and the programming jobs that will be created by it."
The problem isn't concerned citizens, it's sociopaths and those brainwashed by sociopaths. You know, there are some people who hate humanity enough to wipe us all off the map if they could easily create a superbug to do it. You okay with that possibility? Now, the fact is, even if access to this tech were somehow restricted, criminals and crazies would still find a way to get it. How long before we see a virus tailored to wipe out, say, Jews? This is going to happen, we'd better start thinking of ways to deal with it now. I mean, if anyone could go down to Radio Shack and buy a kit to do genetic engineering for a few hundred bucks, how long before someone creates a species-killer by accident? I agree, restricting access isn't the answer, but I don't know what is.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
Watch this video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6950604815683841321&hl=en
It's about an hour long. It's both intriguing and a little scary at the same time. It gives a good example of just how far things have come and where they're potentially headed.
The benefits and cons are both obvious.
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Rob Flynn
Pidgin
My point isn't to praise in any way the people that aren't performing to that standard. It is the fact that they exist almost as a reminder as to what not to do. Sort of a "without night there is no day" kind of thing.
You make a good point with the dangers that loom. You should read if you haven't "The Singularity Is Near" by Ray Kurzweil. It has some good ideas as to how to deal with this topic with nanotech and AI.
When the techniques are as cheap and simple as they are likely to become, how can you restrict access? It's like trying to restrict access to encryption.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
We hope your rules and wisdom choke you / Now we are one in everlasting peace