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New Artificial DNA Points to Alien Life

News Type: Other — Seeded on Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:13 PM EST
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A strange, new genetic code a lot like that found in all terrestrial life is sitting in a beaker full of oily water in a laboratory in Florida, a scientist said today, calling it the first example of an artificial chemical system that is capable of Darwinian evolution.

The system is made of the four molecules that are the basic building blocks of our DNA along with eight synthetic modifications of them, said biochemist Steven A. Benner of the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution in Gainesville.

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{"commentId":5377795,"authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}
Brad Leclerc

Pretty damn cool.

{"commentId":5377795,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:28 PM EST
{"commentId":5381713,"authorDomain":"snvcogar"}
SamC

I was just thinking a couple days ago that a Nobel Prize winning venture would surely result if someone selected 5, 10 or 15 different specimens of the simplest DNA types/strings they could find, map each one, then compare them to each other, …… and then “cut out” all the “junk” mutations …. and/or everything that is not identically “common” among all samples. And of course, making sure that it is still “self-replicating” after each “cut” via PCR.

And then, on n’ on, keep “cutting” until they arrive at the smallest piece of DNA that is still self-replicating. And if it was done that way, then there would be no need to include/insert any synthetic modifications.

{"commentId":5381713,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"snvcogar"}
    Reply#2 - Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:33 AM EST
    {"commentId":5384584,"authorDomain":"mikewarren1"}
    Michael Thomas Warren

    How does "artificial" DNA components at all point to "alien life"?

    {"commentId":5384584,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"mikewarren1"}
      Reply#3 - Sun Feb 15, 2009 2:07 PM EST
      {"commentId":5386283,"authorDomain":"snvcogar"}
      SamC

      Just another "headline" to attract the attention of Bible believing creationists.

      {"commentId":5386283,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"snvcogar"}
      • 1 vote
      #3.1 - Sun Feb 15, 2009 4:30 PM EST
      Reply
      {"commentId":5391141,"authorDomain":"nearing"}
      nearing

      I am not so sure this is a good thing. What these men are doing is creating whole new forms of life. The ethical implications are huge and haven't been debated in the public arena.

      What's to stop people from just creating a life-form to become slaves to humans? We can't even take care of the species that are natural to our environment, how can we be trusted with our own Frankenstein creations?

      And who knows what adding all this synthetic DNA will make these beings like? What if life is created with all of this junk and it acts like a cancer, replicating until it's used up every bit of life-giving resources in on our planet?

      The possibilities are endless.

      I just don't know that we can just say 'cool' and leave it at that. There is so much more to this story.

      {"commentId":5391141,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"nearing"}
      • 3 votes
      Reply#4 - Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:45 PM EST
      {"commentId":5391756,"authorDomain":"fadeplayer"}
      fadeplayer

      The idea is interesting, but I think it's a bad Sci-Fi channel movie at best. Weren't we supposed to be the Jetsons by now?

      {"commentId":5391756,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"fadeplayer"}
      • 4 votes
      #4.1 - Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:57 AM EST
      {"commentId":5393580,"authorDomain":"snvcogar"}
      SamC
      What if life is created with all of this junk and it acts like a cancer, replicating until it's used up every bit of life-giving resources in on our planet?

      HA, there is not enough cigarette smokers left around to "fuel" such a cancer creating thingy.

      {"commentId":5393580,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"snvcogar"}
      • 1 vote
      #4.2 - Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:34 AM EST
      {"commentId":5395751,"authorDomain":"lalaland2013"}
      Lo2013
      HA, there is not enough cigarette smokers left around to "fuel" such a cancer creating thingy.

      LOL, clearly you've never been to Montreal... :P

      I just don't know that we can just say 'cool' and leave it at that. There is so much more to this story.

      I think it's very cool, but you are correct, nearing. It actually reminds me of a line from Jurassic Park, courtesy of Goldblum "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should".

      {"commentId":5395751,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"lalaland2013"}
      • 3 votes
      #4.3 - Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:12 AM EST
      Reply
      {"commentId":5391177,"authorDomain":"riddlemedoooo"}
      Nancy-400923

      Scary.

      {"commentId":5391177,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"riddlemedoooo"}
      • 2 votes
      Reply#5 - Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:49 PM EST
      {"commentId":5392993,"authorDomain":"txtj1"}
      txtj1

      yes it has finally happened ,.ive always know i was a alien child i was allergic to earth hehe n i drem of breathing underwater .,hippy have u ever herard of the dogons heres the link them the hopi n the smaaritaisn all say we were made by the aliens ,.blessings

      http://www.crystalinks.com/dogon.html

      {"commentId":5392993,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"txtj1"}
      • 1 vote
      Reply#6 - Mon Feb 16, 2009 6:55 AM EST
      {"commentId":5400834,"authorDomain":"kmgm112778"}
      FOREVER LOST

      i wish more money went to finding cures for cancer, aids, parkinsons, etc than this nonsense...what can we do with this that will actually benefit us (at this point in time)?

      {"commentId":5400834,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"kmgm112778"}
      • 1 vote
      Reply#7 - Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:31 PM EST
      {"commentId":5401588,"authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}
      Brad Leclerc

      Since understanding how simply life (dna, rna, etc) work at the fundamental level is crucial to fighting things like cancer and aids, I imagine those benefits might interest you....there are plenty of other potential medical benefits and such too though...

      {"commentId":5401588,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}
      • 2 votes
      #7.1 - Mon Feb 16, 2009 4:03 PM EST
      {"commentId":5410540,"authorDomain":"snvcogar"}
      SamC

      Brad, you are absolutely right. Most all forms of cancer is the result of a gene within a cell going uncontrollably "wild" and causing the cell to replicate itself and/or the ajoining cells to do likewise.

      Technically, most every cell in one's body has the "blueprint" for the entire body and it gets its "directions" for reproducing itself depending on wherein the body it is located. This "direction" mechanism is what makes it possible for surgeons to make skin, bone, etc. grafts in re-constructive surgeries.

      And if said "direction" mechanism gets screw up ........ then the cell goes "wild", quickly and uncontrollably reproducing itself and/or "directing" ajoining cells to do likewise, the results of which are either called a tumor or an evasive/spreading cancer.

      Thus, understanding that "direction" mechanism is crucial in "finding a cure for cancer".

      {"commentId":5410540,"threadId":"501196","contentId":"2436381","authorDomain":"snvcogar"}
      • 2 votes
      #7.2 - Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:12 AM EST
      Reply
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