[Art]

Article from T.E.D. where by a synthetic cell was produced from one parent being a computer and the other a yeast bacteria. Yes, you may go ahead and make jokes about a new offspring rising (yeast...).

http://www.wimp.com/syntheticlife/

[Data]

I found this story interesting too, it seems to me that recently mankind has made some huge leap forwards, this being one of them and Memristors being another.

The future is here.   

[Bragi]

yep, this has some serious implementations.

[Art]

I'm sure the vast majority of us hope such technology would / will be used in positive, constructive ways.

How about being able to fabricate cells to locate and destroy disease carrying or mutated cells. Such
cells could help bring about a rapid end to a host of maladies from diabetes, cancers, nervous systems
and perhaps even vision based problems. It would open a new chapter in human medicine that would
help to extend and heighten the quality of life in ways we've never dreamed.

In the wrong hands, it could practically eliminate human life on this planet.

Tread carefully...my friends....

[lrh9]

Don't have anything to comment in particular about the discovery/work.

I do want to say that technology can be as dangerous in the hands of the well intentioned as the ill intentioned.

A well meaning scientist engineers a hardy food bearing plant with a massive yield in an attempt to solve world hunger. The plant replaces our current food crops. Without proper management the plant species will eventually deplete the soil of nutrients. Future crops fail. Desertification begins and becomes unstoppable. Massive famine. End of humankind.

Not trying to scare anyone. I just want people to think. The more we think about what will happen and study what we do the better we can prevent disaster. Ideally scientists would have an idea about nutrient depletion and replenish rates, the plant would be tested, and it wouldn't leave the lab if it failed.

[Freddy]

Wise words lrh, I tend to agree.  Quite an amazing development though, I hope it gets used with respect.

[Art]

The entire 1 hr long show aired last night on the Science Channel about the development of the world's first synthetic cell.

It was rather amazing the amount of dedication and determination this group of molecular biologists from around the world had in order to overcome many failures.

The show also discussed the fact that if their techniques and methods of development and transplantation needed to be protected from falling into the wrong hands. They can engineer and implant a "bot cell" within the colony of cells that can cause the other cells to self destruct if the either deviate from their designed purpose or for whatever reason would mutate into an undesirable cell.