News of man-made life! The work of creating synthetic DNA is progressing. Messrs. Smith and Ventner et. al. have made a bacteria with synthetic DNA only. The new cells can reproduce.
This is probably the beginning of a paradigm of creating life out of matter and information – many similar projects seems to be on the way as the techniques become practical and understanding deepens.
The theory of creating new life is slowly - 15 years in the making – becoming a reality and many areas of progress can be envisioned: man-made energy, drugs, plant, animals …..
The ethics are awesome: the positives must be the goal, the negatives must be avoided. Open attitudes are required – new avenues of progress are opened up.
This is both exciting and frightening.
Tags: DNA, information, paradigm