Just came across this on /. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/01/synthetic_genome What do you think about this? Are we getting close to being able to program life through DNA like we would program a computer through binary code? This could have all sorts of applications. Almost makes me want to study biology (almost...)
I think we are on a true path to programming cells, but the fear here is that this technology not harm humans.
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We are a very, very long way from programming life. DNA isn't a blueprint for the finished organism. However, there are other uses for DNA, such as tiny molecular machines.
I like to think of DNA as life. A self evolving, self replicating system of storing information. Everything else is just a form of life; bacteria, plants, animals, insects, even cells. Different programs running on the same basic code. I worded it a bit funny in my first post. But yes, organic machines based on DNA is what I was asking about. Simple things at first, but if we could program a cell (which is really just an organic machine) through DNA to do specific tasks we'd be taking a huge step forward, and I couldn't imagine all the uses for such a thing. Of course, there's a lot of danger involved too. DNA mutates, and the potential for abuse of technology like this is huge.
Let me qualify that. We are just around the corner from creating the first synthetic organism, but still far from engineering complex multicellular life forms that can function in a natural environment. The first synthetic life will be a bacterium or something, probably copied from a natural one.
"I like to think of DNA as life. A self evolving, self replicating system of storing information. Everything else is just a form of life; bacteria, plants, animals, insects, even cells. Different programs running on the same basic code. I worded it a bit funny in my first post." Xelios nice description. But if life is a self evolving, self replicating system of storing information (well said), then would life begin even prior to the formation of DNA? Genetically grown organic machine? Programed by gene-splicing and manipulation? Could be good or bad. What if a new sequence was introduced that allowed or altered DNA life-form to control its own mutation? Could an army be built like in star wars? Could be powerful medicine or a deadly weapon. Depends on how its handled.
Two points. First, we all know that genetics controls many, if not all, things in live organisms, but have we any idea how? Secondly, surely DNA is nothing other than a 5 digit computer code. Wonder who wrote it?
Hmm. I seem to recall that one of the Watson/Crick duo worked out that the chances of this being accidental were something like 340 trillion to 1. I don't, of course, know what assumptions he used to arrive at this figure.