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Artificial DNA Replicates and 'Evolves'
ananyo writes "Scientists have demonstrated that several lab-made variants of DNA can store and transmit information much like the genuine article. DNA is made up of nucleic acid bases — labelled A, C, G and T — on a backbone made of phosphates and the sugar deoxyribose. The artificial polymers, dubbed XNAs, carry the normal genetic 'alphabet' on a backbone made using different sugars. The researchers engineered enzymes that transcribed DNA into the various XNAs, then back into new DNA strands. Faithful genetic transmission over successive DNA-to-XNA cycles allowed researchers to select for only those XNAs that attached to certain target proteins from a pool of random samples — a process akin to evolution over multiple generations (abstract). The research confirms for the first time that replication, heredity and evolution can take place in artificial DNA-like molecules."
So is this the first step to create human form Cylons?
Possible to store all written knowledge in a cat?
Take it one step further, if we start breeding some computers, they could evolve to become more and more powerful while we all just relax and play video games. As we all get lazier and lazier, this is the eventual outcome; we will become obsolete when we stop adapting and the key limitation for any computer system is that the system is not able to improve itself. With this kind of DNA replication theory tested and proved, we now can use this to facilitate a computer chip that improves itself.
The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
The research confirms for the first time that replication, heredity and evolution can take place in artificial DNA-like molecules.
That is pretty impressive. Up til now I was firmly of the opinion that chemistry only worked properly in natural molecules.
Is it that hard to type out adenine guanine cytosine and thymine? Even my cereal box has thymine written on the side!
so it has come to this
The ability to "breed" chemicals that bond to specific proteins sounds like it could cure a boatload of previously incurable diseases. I'm not sure that is what the researchers are going for, but to me, this sounds like "miracle cure" type stuff.
Bacteria/virus/tumor cells/prions go in, perfectly tailored antibody components come out. Attach some highly reactive oxides/chlorides and you have a targeted antibiotic. At least that's how the science fiction version of this would go.
welcome our new Descoladores overlords.
Here's proof that intelligent beings can induce evolution. That should blow the minds of both creationists and evolutionists.
The resulting debate should be VERY entertaining.
FTFS: "...allowed researchers to select for only those XNAs that attached to certain target proteins from a pool of random samples — a process akin to evolution over multiple generations."
It sounds overreaching to call this "evolution" if the researchers are selecting the better-performing samples. Incredibly cool, amazing breakthrough, but not evolution...
No, faithful genetic transmission is the exact opposite of the mutation necessary for a process akin to evolution.
With this kind of DNA replication theory tested and proved, we now can use this to facilitate a computer chip that improves itself.
What is the learning environment that defines what "improves" means?
I've studied artificial intelligence extensively and there's a whole lot of effort going into reinforcement learning, genetic annealing, etc. But the key thing to remember with DNA is that the Earth provided this environment for it to be tested in and be given feedback. The feedback was and still is exceptionally harsh in that you either died or adapted. On top of that, the DNA lead to things that eventually competed with each other.
The problem with computer chips is that there is no fundamental death/life reward system unless we as humans implement it. And there will always be a need for us to do this because nature doesn't care about logic gates, we do. If you make a set of chips to provide an environment for incubating and reward or punishing the first set of chips, you merely have another layer where humans must evaluate and instruct the chips as to what it is that we want.
Faithful genetic transmission over successive DNA-to-XNA cycles allowed researchers to select for only those XNAs that ...
Unfortunately, in order to impose your will (no matter how lazy you wish to be) you still must define your will. And I think you'll see that it becomes a major effort when trying to set up automated systems like you propose.
Simply said: define "improves." Putting the chips outside and pitting them against each other in nature isn't gonna do it. The ability to direct harmful radiation will probably win out over gigahertz or logic gates per area.
My work here is dung.
So if we can engineer different forms of XNA that are compatible with DNA replication, we can build some additional functions into them. Like the ability to pattern match strings of XNA based on magnetic or electrical properties. Think about genetic RFID tags.
Since it might be possible to introduce these tagged sugar molecules through the food supply, the day will come when the TSA contracts to supply all your kids their school lunches.
Have gnu, will travel.
I've dabbled with XNAs before. They start out cornflower blue, and eventually evolve into video games.
You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
I'm far more worried what companies like Monsanto could do with this.
However, if they can be easily engineered, and not just replicate existing DNA through a selection process, which seems to be the first step, I see some pretty radical possibilities for medicinal use, replacing or augmenting faulty or damaged DNA.
Until the religious get their panties in a knot about messing with creation, that is.
Replicants are like any other machine - they're either a benefit or a hazard. If they're a benefit, it's not my problem.
Man has become God.
God want his share of the profits now....
Oh you best believe they will destroy any attack on their platform.
Who do these guys think they are stealing Microsofts highly rated and award winning development platform?
Only Apple are allowed to do that.
Completely ignoring the elephant in the room: the assiduous intelligence needed to assemble the stuff.
Cranky educator.
The researchers just created a very simple life form (if it evolves, it is alive for any usefull pourpose here) from molecules that are expected to be created at random at the earlier times of our planet. Now somebody just needs to calculate the probability of those molecules appearing and interacting anywhere on the planet, and we have a lower value for the probability of life appearing on Earth.
Of course, that's different life from we, as we likely come from the evolution of RNA molecules.
Rethinking email
"Faithful genetic transmission over successive DNA-to-XNA cycles allowed researchers to select for only those XNAs that attached to certain target proteins from a pool of random samples — a process akin to evolution over multiple generations."
A material's just being "sticky" is no kind of confirmation of the sequence uniformity. They would have to be sequenced to confirm this.
The article only provides the most superficial description, and this is Science and Nature, though it also smacks of some (by no means atypical these days) grand-standing.
Bukowski said it. I believe it. That settles it.
In other news scientists working on lab made DNA variants were hit with a multi-trillion dollar lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that the scientists infringed on several patents held by an entity that is only identified by the initials G.O.D. According to lawyers for G.O.D. the scientists' work has allowed others to cheaply develop counterfeit products that utilize various copyright protected procedures in DNA. Lawyers for G.O.D. stress that the quality of these products are grossly inferior to the originals and that further development continues to impact the ability of artists like G.O.D. from creating new works. G.O.D. could not be reached for comment, but various religious leaders who claim to be close friends to G.O.D. claim that G.O.D. is really upset. According to them, G.O.D. is having a hard time as it is making a living while those pirating G.O.D's work are making millions.
More on this as the story unfolds....
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The article is worthless without a description of the chemical structure of the "XNA". The abstract doesn't describe it, and the full paper is paywalled.
A higher order being created with 100% XNA would be stark proof to the doubters that man can create life or better said they would be forced to confront "unreal" life forms.
Beware of Shoggoths.
Geez Louise! Just wait until M$'s litigation division hears someone using their "XNA" brand --- holy shyster hell is about to break loose, with Nathan Myrvold's Intellectual Ventures' scam not far behind.........
:p
Never antropomorphize computers, they do not like that
Since when science says that intelligence cannot induce evolution? I don't think any scientist would be surprised as you suggested. God-like intelligence will certainly be aware of the laws of nature and be able to create whatever....the issues with the God hypothesis lie elsewhere. Who is the evolutionist who says that "intelligence did it" is not a hypothesis to be considered? Of course it is - this is where Darwin (and the ones before him) started. "Argument of design" rings a bell? It used to be called proof, not argument, that should tell you a great deal. The important thing is that evolution offers simpler explanation, supported by facts and does not require meddling intelligence, thus avoiding the other issues of introducing creator with a capital "c". Besides, the whole history of the universe is a story of complexity bred from simplicity (few forces, matter/energy) and time. Life is no exception. No surprises, really..
Anyway, soon we will see Ridley Scott's view on this issue. As far as I understood Prometheus is exactly about intelligence meddling with biology/evolution.
"The problem with computer chips is that there is no fundamental death/life reward system unless we as humans implement it. And there will always be a need for us to do this because nature doesn't care about logic gates, we do. If you make a set of chips to provide an environment for incubating and reward or punishing the first set of chips, you merely have another layer where humans must evaluate and instruct the chips as to what it is that we want."
Don't despair, this is how humans have hade breeding programs for the domestic animals like cattle, goats, sheep, horses, cats, and dogs for millennia.
So, of course we will have evaluate them at some points before we can hope to use them.
See, this is what I call beautiful science.
When your self-replication is imperfect, just claim that it also has 'evolution' included.
Indeed, my first thought on reading this was "they came up with an XML schema for DNA??"
Don't be surprised in the near future we have XNAs or proteins as memory for our computing devices...coool ish!