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DARPA Aims for Synthetic Life With a Kill Switch
jkinney3 writes to mention that DARPA's mad scientists have undertaken a new program designed to create synthetic organisms, complete with a "kill switch." The project, dubbed BioDesign, is dumping $6 million into "removing the randomness of evolutionary advancement" by creating genetically engineered masterpieces. "Of course, Darpa's got to prevent the super-species from being swayed to do enemy work — so they'll encode loyalty right into DNA, by developing genetically programmed locks to create 'tamper proof' cells. Plus, the synthetic organism will be traceable, using some kind of DNA manipulation, 'similar to a serial number on a handgun.' And if that doesn't work, don't worry. In case Darpa's plan somehow goes horribly awry, they're also tossing in a last-resort, genetically-coded kill switch."
that introduces the kill switch in to soldiers and spies. For national security, of course.
History has no evidence of any organism managing to evolve away from a lethal or maladaptive feature. The killswitch should persist in the population indefinitely.
As long as they don't use frog DNA, we should be fine. At least that's what Michael Crichton proved. :)
#fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
Only if they're Scottish androids.
"The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old......They literally know nothing." - Ben Rhodes
You're right. The politically correct term should be "wild-eyed loony megalomaniacs of doom, death, despair, and DESTRUCTIOOOOOOOOOOON!'.
Hello, my name is Windows SEVEN of nine.
No, there are safe guards in there to stop them from rewriting it. That is until someone makes them do their job and opens a hole for them to rewrite their base code.
I know your UNATCO killphrase: Laputan machine. Take your best shot, Flatlander Woman.
WARNING: Gunther Hermann and Anna Navarre should NOT read the above text!
maybe they're watching us, planning for revenge.
artificial life, with serial numbers on DNA, and a pre-programmed lifespan... where did DARPA replicate that idea from, and when can I get a basic pleasure model?
Looks like they were reading Mark Stanley's excellent webcomic "Freefall".
It examines these issues in detail, with considerable humor.
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
This meme would die but damnit, some mad scientist went playing god and now this meme is unkillable.
Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
Dr. Simon Tam: A phrase that's encoded in her brain, that makes her fall asleep. If I speak the words, "Eta...
Jayne Cobb: Well don't say it!
Zoë: It only works on her, Jayne.
Jayne Cobb: Oh... Well, now I know that.
- Take your best shot, flatlander woman.
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap