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Scientists Build Possibly The First Man-Made Genome

Posted by Zonk on from the quite-a-crafting-combine dept.

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."

4 of 264 comments (clear)

  1. whatcouldpossiblygowrong? by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 5, Funny

    "As a programmer, I'm most excited by the possibility of a new platform and the programming jobs that will be created by it."
    As a programmer, when I think of the quality of the HTML on most websites, and then read the above sentence, I throw up in my mouth a little.
    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  2. Ewww! by monkeyboythom · · Score: 5, Funny

    As a programmer, I'm most excited by the possibility of a new platform and the programming jobs that will be created by it.

    As a regular guy, I am NOT excited by the thought of thousands of fat, greasy programmers drooling over a test tube and a well worn copy of "Weird Science."

    As my friend Han was so fond of saying, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

  3. Re:Impossible? by esampson · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have my own theory; so many things in this world annoy me that they couldn't have happened by random chance. Instead they are proof of some supreme cosmic being who shaped the world just to piss me off.

    I call my theory Belligerent Design. (with all credit to Lore Sjoberg for that joke).

  4. It's called transubstantiation. by Peter+Trepan · · Score: 5, Funny

    You need a genetic sample [of Christ]

    Acquire a Catholic who has just taken communion and induce him to vomit, thereby producing a viable sample of body and blood.

    Who says science and faith aren't compatible?

    --

    Step into a huge movement. Don't Tread In Me.