Craig Venter Creates Synthetic Life Form
By Daniel Florien on May 20, 2010 in Current Events, Evolution, Science.
Hurrah!
Scientists have created the world’s first synthetic life form in a landmark experiment that paves the way for designer organisms that are built rather than evolved.
The controversial feat, which has occupied 20 scientists for more than 10 years at an estimated cost of $40m, was described by one researcher as “a defining moment in biology”.
Craig Venter, the pioneering US geneticist behind the experiment, said the achievement heralds the dawn of a new era in which new life is made to benefit humanity, starting with bacteria that churn out biofuels, soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and even manufacture vaccines.
However critics, including some religious groups, condemned the work, with one organisation warning that artificial organisms could escape into the wild and cause environmental havoc or be turned into biological weapons. Others said Venter was playing God.
No surprise here. Religion has done its best to hold back science. If it were not for scientists (few who believe in god) we would still be living in the stone age.
People wouldn’t have to “play God” if God existed. God could play God himself. Until he decides to start existing, humanity will take up the slack.
Here is one of the comments from Jon:
I’ve always had a problem with people accusing biomedical researchers of “playing God”. I feel that if they were trying to be like God, then they would be devising ways to give people (or their children/other loved ones) diseases in order to “teach them a lesson” or “test their faith”. Or to intentionally cause a birth defect for similar reasons. I believe that research aimed at eradicating disease, pain, and suffering is very much the exact opposite of “playing God”.
However critics, including some religious groups, condemned the work, with one organisation warning that artificial organisms could escape into the wild and cause environmental havoc or be turned into biological weapons.
Q. What the hell do these Christian groups think the aids virus did if not create havoc. We already have biological weapons. For example The Flu, over history is responsible for more deaths than any other. In 1918, the Spanish Flu devastated the human species, killing more than 50 million people worldwide, a record for viruses. The aids virus is just as deadly. It has killed 15 million and working on another 15 million. The Ebola Virus will kill a human in 24 hours.
As long as god continues to let millions of little children starve to death due to drought, when all he has to do is bring a little rain, I'll go with the scientists.
Maybe they can figure out a way to feed everybody.
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Now, that is a new thought for me:playing god by doing the uglies to people. Unfortunately, makes too much sense!
ReplyDeleteCA gal
I don't know about playing god, but my wife likes to tell the story about when she was very small she and two cousins decided to play church. When they gathering up things for a pulpit, books etc. one little cousin whined, "We can't play church, we ain't got no crackers." That's one of best sermons I have ever heard.
ReplyDeleteJim
Cal gal, I wish I had an excuse for omitting words and letters from my posts. I guess I'm just too lazy to click the edit. Of course they say if you are over age 65 you have a one in eight chance of alzheimers; one in two if 85. At age 75, who knows. Oh, what the hell, I think I will just forget about it.
ReplyDeleteJim