The bacterial cell they copied from had a genome length of about 1 million base pairs and a primitive cell structure - no small feat, however. Compared to the human 3 billion base pairs and a cell complexity orders of magnitude higher it may still be a while before we can copy a human genome synthetically with any amount of success.
And when we have done that would we really be able to think of ourselves as little gods? I totally support responsible scientific curiosity - as long as we retain a balance of reality regarding our place in the cosmos and retain our dignity - while realizing that what seems like mountains to us are only ripples in an ocean. Sam On May 23, 2:50 am, Robert <[email protected]> wrote: > I must correct myself. > They copied an entire genome, but did not create an entire cell. > My bad. I apologize. > ------------------------------------------ > On May 22, 8:38 pm, Robert <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > Quoting from the article: > > "...he said it doesn’t represent the creation of a fully synthetic > > life form. Venter essentially transplanted a synthetic genome into a > > related organism, and found the genes functioned normally there." > > > They are referring to a segment of DNA, not an entire genome. > > > Still, this is a fascinating subject. > > Remember the cloned sheep, "Dolly?" > > Turns out that these cloned creatures are not exact copies after all, > > and they develop health problems later on. > > There is a lot that goes on in genetic reactions that we do not > > understand. For example, genes can "correct" errors in > > transcription. It is almost as if the gene knows what it is supposed > > to look like, and if it does not look like that, it has limited > > abilities to restore the correct "grammar" as it were. > > > Genetic manipulation is an inherently dangerous undertaking, > > because once a life form is unleashed into the environment, it cannot > > be recalled if there are unintended consequences. > > > Some say that all genetic engineering does is to accelerate something > > that nature might do on its own. > > > But that may not be entirely true. > > The cloning experiments provide a warning that there are potentially > > catastrophic consequences inherent in the field of genetic > > engineering. > > ------------------------------------------------------- > > On May 22, 3:47 pm, einseele <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > For the first time scientists have manufactured DNA. > > > DNA since taken as a written sequence represents the biggest knowledge > > > revolution ever. > > > Scientist are able now, to "write" DNA. > > > > See it > > > athttp://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-21/life-form-created-with-ma... > > > > Expect as well the corresponding ethic storm. Regardless where are we > > > headed to, this is close to God's actions. And what code is about. > > > > -- > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > > "Epistemology" group. > > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > > [email protected]. > > > For more options, visit this group > > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/epistemology?hl=en. > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "Epistemology" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected]. > > For more options, visit this group > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/epistemology?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Epistemology" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group > athttp://groups.google.com/group/epistemology?hl=en.- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Epistemology" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/epistemology?hl=en.
