Hum Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Man-made forms of life are just fine in Uncle Sam's book, a new federal study into synthetic biology concludes. The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues has just released the conclusions of months of research, deemed necessary after scientists in May trumpeted the creation of a new artificial organism by inserting laboratory -made genes into an existing bacterial cell. No, that wasn't a new form of life, the panel cautioned -- but it sure did raise some interesting issues. "Is it ethical to create new life forms? What are the religious concerns?" asked Arthur Caplan, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Bioethics. Scientists are hard at work creating similar life forms, for a variety of useful purposes. But there's little oversight at present into this emerging field. "At some point these critters will come out of the factory and into the real world to do things -- and we don't have any rules at present," Caplan said. In May, genome pioneer Craig Venter brought the issue to a head when he announced progress in his quest to build a microbe from scratch. A team at his lab in Maryland used an artificially synthesized genome to bring to life a bacterium that had its own genetic material scooped out. This report begins by poking holes in Venter's premise, that he and his scientists had created "artificial life" with this work. "The report comes out and says, look, we're not convinced new life forms are being made," Caplan told FoxNews.com. And it stresses that man-made life "still remains remote for the foreseeable future." more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CentralDogma Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues has just released the conclusions of months of research, deemed necessary after scientists in May trumpeted the creation of a new artificial organism by inserting laboratory -made genes into an existing bacterial cell. Pretty sure they've been doing that way before May of this year. Anyway, I can understand the logic in their decision. If we can experiment on naturally occurring life forms, why not artificial? But I can see stricter limitations in the future as technology advances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted December 19, 2010 Member Share Posted December 19, 2010 I guess when they release something that turns us all into zombies they'll be sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 I guess when they release something that turns us all into zombies they'll be sorry. The only thing I hate about this artificial life forms is that most media outlets have managed to portray this as if scientists have created life. So many people I have spoke to though that's what these discoveries were about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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