To quote the article: The Robot Scientist works in an area of biology known as functional genomics, which is concerned with uncovering the roles that different genes play in the machinery of life. As a test, the system was told to discover how certain genes affect a complex chemical pathway inside yeast cells. The task for the computer, and a common one in biology, was to figure out which genes are involved in which steps of the pathway by testing yeast cells with different genes removed.
Sounds like it used a similar experimental setup that Ideker et al used to dissect the galactose metabolic pathways in yeast. Integrated genomic and proteomic analyses of a systemically perturbed metabolic network (URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd= Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11340206&dopt=Abstrac t)
An American company, Sage Systems, for example, has created a software program that allows utilities to "shed load instantly" if the system is at its peak and stressed to the limit, by "setting back a few thousand customers' thermostats by 2 degrees... [with] a single command over the internet". Another new product, Aladyn, allows users to monitor and make changes in the energy used by home appliances, lights and air conditioning, all from a browser.
Would I really want to give the electric company the power to control my appliances? I understand the benefit of lowering the demand; but it is possible this system could be abused... by anyone with a browser.
(No I'm not paranoid... but my thermostat is my thermostat:) )
If you're a hiring manager, what is your opinion on someone who has a Ph.D. and is otherwise already qualified for the position?
A hiring manager may fear (or envy) your higher education, or fear you may displace them (your higher degree may make you look better suited for management.)
Now for the field I'm want to enter (mol. bio.), research and teaching (at the college level) you need a Ph.D. to be taken seriously and get a job. (Not to say I agree with that, but that is the impression I've gotten from others).
Just my 0.02 USD...
This is not the only problem to not have a "done by hand" proof, the four color map theorem proof (one version of it) was in part by done with a computer.
http://www.math.gatech.edu/~thomas/FC/fourcolor.ht ml
By the way, I couldn't help but to notice the quote at the bottom of the page (generated by slashdot)
"Don't think; let the machine do it for you!" -- E. C. Berkeley
lie detector tests are about as good as flipping a coin. I wonder what the result would be if they just randomly chose ~50% of their claimants and investigated them...
To quote the article "Such sensors could allow people to operate devices from anywhere there is an Internet connection." and "Now that the address space is available, the next step is figuring out how to use it."
I've got an idea, a internet connected toilet. "Using a cellphone in Los Angeles", I could flush the toilet at my home remotely and have the toilet seat drop down automatically (you know, to keep domestic tranquility). I could even call the toilet to see if anyone is using it.
I better go patent it...
Quoting the story: Key caps allow one to reconfigure their letters without actually prying off the keys from the keyboard. This was implemented due to the aforementioned QWERTY/Dvorak controversy.
I loved the ability to remove the cap keys, every few weeks I would remove all the cap keys from my keyboard and clean each one by hand using a bleach solution, inside and out. It's great for all us obsessive-compulsive cleaners.
The other great thing about them was the ability to play practical jokes, all one had to do was change around a few 'key' keys and watch all the non-touch typists in a computer lab get pissed off at the computer. And with Windows 2k, I'd change the insert and delete keys around, (makes it hard to use CTRL-ALT-DEL to get to the login screen)
First off, I should clearify that when I said 'you', I should have said 'you or someone else (or some group) that volunteers or is compensated ' can provide support.
As for your other two points:
What if I don't program... I'm not a professional programmer either, I'm a molecular biologist... so I wouldn't tackle a project like supporting an abandoned distro myself... I would just "upgrade."
What if I don't want to pay someone tens of thousands of dollars to modify the OS... Being a poor college student means I don't have tens of thousands of pennies let alone dollars to modify the OS. ...I use at home Well since you normally don't have problems with legacy equipement for your typical home machines the answer is "upgrade." Now at the risk of being attacked by slashbots I would suggest the OS I use on a home machine that while not free has tens of thousands of dollars to modify and support older versions.
And yes I have seen problems with DIY code... esp. my own:) I hope that clearifies my post for you, and y'all have a nice day.
I thought the beauty of open source was...
on
Introduction to Debian
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
to quote the article: "There is a distinct possibility that some Linux vendors may close up shop, change their business direction or adjust their practices in some other way. Thus, the distribution you use today may not be around in 10 years. "
I thought the beauty of open source was that even if the original author (be it a natural person(s) or a company) decides to no longer support a project that the source is there for you to look at and provide your own support.
donotcall.gov... does that imply I should not call on the government for anything, or does it mean I should not call the government on the stupid stuff it does. Either way, both are probably true...
First, there is a difference between bioinforamatics and DNA computing. Bioinformatics is the application of computer algorithms and statistical techniques to figure out how a biological system works. DNA computing is more of an engineering project, since you are addapting DNA to do your computational bidding (e.g. a DNA based microprocessor)
I my self am in the field of bioinformatics/molecular biology with my primary interest being in RNA regulation and regulatory elements. I am trying to find and figure out how RNA regulation works in model systems.
Now for your questions...
>In the long run, will biology rewrite computing or will modern day technology concepts and theory be integrated into biology?
Both will happen...
>If both are true, which will have the greater effect?
I don't know about biology rewriting comuting. First, yes DNA encodes information 'like' binary 1's and 0's, but we are still figuring out the system works. We know how to find some genes by just looking at the sequences, but we still have the problems with predicting genes in a sequence (e.g. gene splicing, post transciptional events, etc.
I think it would be more sane to use the modern day technological concepts and theory, but with an emphasis on parallel computing.
>I understand long run is ambiguous in this question, but Iâ(TM)m interested in all thoughts using any applicable definition.
Tied to the first question: How will the nature of computing, and how we perceive it, change due to biology integration?
Well we can have those clean computers powered by photosynthesis... ok, all kidding aside, it change computing for those tasks DNA would excel at: A DNA computer is a type of non-deterministic computer. We have to overcome some of the problems imposed by DNA... its a chemical that is in an aqueous environment that tends to mutate over time; also the DNA computers I have seen work in a test tube, and you have to sequence it to get a result. That should hopefully change in time.
>More to the point, how much of the theory we learn today may change?
In biology - a sh*t load most likely; like I said above, we are still trying to understand biological systems and how they interact with each other, including DNA and how it codes for life.
>What will be the biggest issue determining the success of the adoption of biology-integrated computing?
Get it out of the test tube first... place it on a chip, like a microprocessor.
Also the energy source... I don't want to share my doritos with my desktop...
>Will it be technology factors or will it be societal factors (e.g., rebellion by the Right Wing), or something else?
Don't like the right wing, eh? Well as a card carrying member of the vast right wing conspiracy, you have just as much to worry about from the left... those environuts who think we are tampering with nature (like we haven't been doing that for the last 10000+ years (e.g agriculture). Both extremes muzzel science... get used to it.
If we start to integrate computers into our selves... yeah I think society will have some issues to face about what it means to be human. (I'll go with David Hume with this gem "I'm human because my parents were human")
>What things must hold true to make the idea succeed?
1. Perfect DNA computing
2.
3. Profit -- of course!
Ok, seriously -- there need to be interest in the scientific community, we need to figure out how DNA works in living beings... how it encodes all its data (and how about that junk DNA?). We need to get it on a chip (not a microarray chip... some times called DNA chips). And there needs to be a profit motive.
>And perhaps the hottest issue of all: Is there anything inherently wrong with pursuing this avenue? What may be some of the consequences?
Hell no! But if you are interested in DNA computing, the bioinformatic
There is the Alice project at http://www.alice.org Its goal is to help teach children programming methodology (problem solving using a language, versus just teaching the syntax of a language). From the site "The focus of the Alice project is now to provide the best possible first exposure to programming for students ranging from middle schoolers to college students" It's free (binary and source), but runs only under MS-Windows (uses Direct-X).
According to what I read on the linked site, they are using "Test-to-Speech" software. This seems no different than using a text-to-speech agent on your own computer. What is the advantage for recording the text-to-speech? (When I think of audio books, I usually think of a human reader... not a computer - a human tends to be more accurate, esp. with languages like english)
I remember when I got my first 386 based computer, it was a 386SX (40 MHz - by AMD); which used a 16-bit data bus on the "outside" and 32-bit internally. Do any of you think there will be a x86-64SX, that will work on today's 32-bit motherboards, while giving some of the advantages of 64-bit computing?
to use this, since it is only binary compatability. So You will still need to buy PowerPC based computers. And who is one of the largest and most noted for selling powerPC based PCs... Apple Computer; so why not just run MacOS X?
I know you can buy third party PowerPC computer, but they are more expense than Apple's machines.
I do appricated their effort, it is probably a good exercise in programming skill.
It would be useful if it was on x86, but there are plenty of problems with that; see http://www.emaculation.com/ppc.shtml
(if they're still around)
becuase they are licensing a product, to quote the story: "Instead of a product, consumers will essentially purchase licenses to use digital movies or music under certain circumstances"
A man brings up a copy of Ghostbusters VII (remember Hollywood hates taking risk, so they began to just make sequals to ancient hits) and begins to check it out.
The guy at the checkout counter asks "How many people will be viewing this?"
The man answers "None of you business"
"Well, sir, we need to know that so we can charge you a per person viewing license"
"What the fu**?
"Well, sir, remember, everytime a unlicensed viewer views a copy, they are viewing it with bin laden."
--if you don't find it funny, don't waste your points modding me down. Use your mod points to promote world peace, or something...
Slashdot Mirror
Just wait until you put an {AMD|P4} processor in it, then that case will be an EZ Roast oven for hamsters...
To quote the article:= Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11340206&dopt=Abstrac t)
The Robot Scientist works in an area of biology known as functional genomics, which is concerned with uncovering the roles that different genes play in the machinery of life. As a test, the system was told to discover how certain genes affect a complex chemical pathway inside yeast cells. The task for the computer, and a common one in biology, was to figure out which genes are involved in which steps of the pathway by testing yeast cells with different genes removed.
Sounds like it used a similar experimental setup that Ideker et al used to dissect the galactose metabolic pathways in yeast.
Integrated genomic and proteomic analyses of a systemically perturbed metabolic network
(URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd
An American company, Sage Systems, for example, has created a software program that allows utilities to "shed load instantly" if the system is at its peak and stressed to the limit, by "setting back a few thousand customers' thermostats by 2 degrees ... [with] a single command over the internet". Another new product, Aladyn, allows users to monitor and make changes in the energy used by home appliances, lights and air conditioning, all from a browser.
Would I really want to give the electric company the power to control my appliances? I understand the benefit of lowering the demand; but it is possible this system could be abused... by anyone with a browser.
(No I'm not paranoid... but my thermostat is my thermostat :) )
If you're a hiring manager, what is your opinion on someone who has a Ph.D. and is otherwise already qualified for the position?
A hiring manager may fear (or envy) your higher education, or fear you may displace them (your higher degree may make you look better suited for management.)
Now for the field I'm want to enter (mol. bio.), research and teaching (at the college level) you need a Ph.D. to be taken seriously and get a job. (Not to say I agree with that, but that is the impression I've gotten from others).
Just my 0.02 USD...
This is not the only problem to not have a "done by hand" proof, the four color map theorem proof (one version of it) was in part by done with a computer.t ml
http://www.math.gatech.edu/~thomas/FC/fourcolor.h
By the way, I couldn't help but to notice the quote at the bottom of the page (generated by slashdot)
"Don't think; let the machine do it for you!" -- E. C. Berkeley
But are there any practical applications, or is this a climb the "nerd mountain" type of thing?
lie detector tests are about as good as flipping a coin. I wonder what the result would be if they just randomly chose ~50% of their claimants and investigated them...
Since NPR only provides an audio link, here are some text sites with info on chimeric twins (genetic mosaics).P ages/M/Mosaics.html
[Genetic Mosaics] http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/Biology
Google search for Genetic Mosaics
And for the non-biologists
To quote the article "Such sensors could allow people to operate devices from anywhere there is an Internet connection." and "Now that the address space is available, the next step is figuring out how to use it."
I've got an idea, a internet connected toilet. "Using a cellphone in Los Angeles", I could flush the toilet at my home remotely and have the toilet seat drop down automatically (you know, to keep domestic tranquility). I could even call the toilet to see if anyone is using it.
I better go patent it...
...where can I find all the cheat codes?
I wanted to see how long it took for my link to be saturated. Can't do that with google.
Ahhh... I feel the slashdot effect. Since this doc has tables, I put a mirror up. http://mirrors.tatay.org/lnxsco.html Cheers y'all!
I never thought of that, rearraging the keys, that sounds like a good idea, I think I'll try it. Thankx. Mod up the parent "Re: ..."
Quoting the story: Key caps allow one to reconfigure their letters without actually prying off the keys from the keyboard. This was implemented due to the aforementioned QWERTY/Dvorak controversy.
I loved the ability to remove the cap keys, every few weeks I would remove all the cap keys from my keyboard and clean each one by hand using a bleach solution, inside and out. It's great for all us obsessive-compulsive cleaners.
The other great thing about them was the ability to play practical jokes, all one had to do was change around a few 'key' keys and watch all the non-touch typists in a computer lab get pissed off at the computer. And with Windows 2k, I'd change the insert and delete keys around, (makes it hard to use CTRL-ALT-DEL to get to the login screen)
First off, I should clearify that when I said 'you', I should have said 'you or someone else (or some group) that volunteers or is compensated ' can provide support.
...I use at home
:)
As for your other two points:
What if I don't program... I'm not a professional programmer either, I'm a molecular biologist... so I wouldn't tackle a project like supporting an abandoned distro myself... I would just "upgrade."
What if I don't want to pay someone tens of thousands of dollars to modify the OS...
Being a poor college student means I don't have tens of thousands of pennies let alone dollars to modify the OS.
Well since you normally don't have problems with legacy equipement for your typical home machines the answer is "upgrade." Now at the risk of being attacked by slashbots I would suggest the OS I use on a home machine that while not free has tens of thousands of dollars to modify and support older versions.
And yes I have seen problems with DIY code... esp. my own
I hope that clearifies my post for you, and y'all have a nice day.
to quote the article: "There is a distinct possibility that some Linux vendors may close up shop, change their business direction or adjust their practices in some other way. Thus, the distribution you use today may not be around in 10 years. "
I thought the beauty of open source was that even if the original author (be it a natural person(s) or a company) decides to no longer support a project that the source is there for you to look at and provide your own support.
I wonder how long before we see someone modify the *BSD is dying troll for Ham radio... I can see it know "Not OT: *HAM radio is dying..."
Over the past few years the FCC has changed some of the rules and have simplified the code requirements. Check it out at http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/amateur/.
donotcall.gov ... does that imply I should not call on the government for anything, or does it mean I should not call the government on the stupid stuff it does. Either way, both are probably true...
First, there is a difference between bioinforamatics and DNA computing. Bioinformatics is the application of computer algorithms and statistical techniques to figure out how a biological system works. DNA computing is more of an engineering project, since you are addapting DNA to do your computational bidding (e.g. a DNA based microprocessor)
I my self am in the field of bioinformatics/molecular biology with my primary interest being in RNA regulation and regulatory elements. I am trying to find and figure out how RNA regulation works in model systems.
Now for your questions...
>In the long run, will biology rewrite computing or will modern day technology concepts and theory be integrated into biology?
Both will happen...
>If both are true, which will have the greater effect?
I don't know about biology rewriting comuting. First, yes DNA encodes information 'like' binary 1's and 0's, but we are still figuring out the system works. We know how to find some genes by just looking at the sequences, but we still have the problems with predicting genes in a sequence (e.g. gene splicing, post transciptional events, etc.
I think it would be more sane to use the modern day technological concepts and theory, but with an emphasis on parallel computing.
>I understand long run is ambiguous in this question, but Iâ(TM)m interested in all thoughts using any applicable definition.
Tied to the first question: How will the nature of computing, and how we perceive it, change due to biology integration?
Well we can have those clean computers powered by photosynthesis... ok, all kidding aside, it change computing for those tasks DNA would excel at: A DNA computer is a type of non-deterministic computer. We have to overcome some of the problems imposed by DNA... its a chemical that is in an aqueous environment that tends to mutate over time; also the DNA computers I have seen work in a test tube, and you have to sequence it to get a result. That should hopefully change in time.
>More to the point, how much of the theory we learn today may change?
In biology - a sh*t load most likely; like I said above, we are still trying to understand biological systems and how they interact with each other, including DNA and how it codes for life.
>What will be the biggest issue determining the success of the adoption of biology-integrated computing?
Get it out of the test tube first... place it on a chip, like a microprocessor. Also the energy source... I don't want to share my doritos with my desktop...
>Will it be technology factors or will it be societal factors (e.g., rebellion by the Right Wing), or something else?
Don't like the right wing, eh? Well as a card carrying member of the vast right wing conspiracy, you have just as much to worry about from the left... those environuts who think we are tampering with nature (like we haven't been doing that for the last 10000+ years (e.g agriculture). Both extremes muzzel science... get used to it.
If we start to integrate computers into our selves... yeah I think society will have some issues to face about what it means to be human. (I'll go with David Hume with this gem "I'm human because my parents were human")
>What things must hold true to make the idea succeed?
1. Perfect DNA computing
2.
3. Profit -- of course!
Ok, seriously -- there need to be interest in the scientific community, we need to figure out how DNA works in living beings... how it encodes all its data (and how about that junk DNA?). We need to get it on a chip (not a microarray chip... some times called DNA chips). And there needs to be a profit motive.
>And perhaps the hottest issue of all: Is there anything inherently wrong with pursuing this avenue? What may be some of the consequences?
Hell no! But if you are interested in DNA computing, the bioinformatic
There is the Alice project at http://www.alice.org Its goal is to help teach children programming methodology (problem solving using a language, versus just teaching the syntax of a language).
From the site "The focus of the Alice project is now to provide the best possible first exposure to programming for students ranging from middle schoolers to college students"
It's free (binary and source), but runs only under MS-Windows (uses Direct-X).
According to what I read on the linked site, they are using "Test-to-Speech" software. This seems no different than using a text-to-speech agent on your own computer. What is the advantage for recording the text-to-speech? (When I think of audio books, I usually think of a human reader... not a computer - a human tends to be more accurate, esp. with languages like english)
I remember when I got my first 386 based computer, it was a 386SX (40 MHz - by AMD); which used a 16-bit data bus on the "outside" and 32-bit internally. Do any of you think there will be a x86-64SX, that will work on today's 32-bit motherboards, while giving some of the advantages of 64-bit computing?
to use this, since it is only binary compatability. So You will still need to buy PowerPC based computers. And who is one of the largest and most noted for selling powerPC based PCs... Apple Computer; so why not just run MacOS X?
I know you can buy third party PowerPC computer, but they are more expense than Apple's machines.
I do appricated their effort, it is probably a good exercise in programming skill.
It would be useful if it was on x86, but there are plenty of problems with that; see
http://www.emaculation.com/ppc.shtml
(This is not a flame, just an observation)
(if they're still around)
becuase they are licensing a product, to quote the story: "Instead of a product, consumers will essentially purchase licenses to use digital movies or music under certain circumstances"
A man brings up a copy of Ghostbusters VII (remember Hollywood hates taking risk, so they began to just make sequals to ancient hits) and begins to check it out.
The guy at the checkout counter asks "How many people will be viewing this?"
The man answers "None of you business"
"Well, sir, we need to know that so we can charge you a per person viewing license"
"What the fu**?
"Well, sir, remember, everytime a unlicensed viewer views a copy, they are viewing it with bin laden."
--if you don't find it funny, don't waste your points modding me down. Use your mod points to promote world peace, or something...