Life Created in a Lab

[mark kennedy]

I'm a Young Earth Creationist who came on here to argue against Darwinism and fell in love with genetics. I just watched 60 Minutes and assume the episode will be available on line, if it's not already. Just thought I would start a thread to see what kind of significance the posters on here might find in this:

"This is the first synthetic cell that's been made, and we call it synthetic because the cell is totally derived from a synthetic chromosome, made with four bottles of chemicals on a chemical synthesizer, starting with information in a computer," said Dr Venter.

"This becomes a very powerful tool for trying to design what we want biology to do. We have a wide range of applications [in mind],"​

Scientist Craig Venter creates life for first time in laboratory sparking debate about 'playing god'

I'm not sure what significance this might have for the creation/evolution controversy.

Your thoughts...

 

[sfs]

Thoughts:
1) They did not create life; they created a chromosome.
2) I can't think of any relevance to creation/evolution arguments.
3) Craig Venter is not one to downplay his own accomplishments.

 

[mark kennedy]

Thoughts:
1) They did not create life; they created a chromosome.
2) I can't think of any relevance to creation/evolution arguments.
3) Craig Venter is not one to downplay his own accomplishments.

Yea he didn't seem to be burdened with an over abundance of humility. I just thought it was interesting how the technology is progressing and I'm often encouraged that there is so much accountability in this field.

Thanks for sharing.
Mark

 

[sfs]

Yea he didn't seem to be burdened with an over abundance of humility. I just thought it was interesting how the technology is progressing and I'm often encouraged that there is so much accountability in this field.

I will admit to being a little worried where this will all end up. Anything people can do, they usually end up doing, and I can imagine all kinds of unpleasant things one could do with unlimited genetic engineering capabilities.

 

[yasic]

I will admit to being a little worried where this will all end up. Anything people can do, they usually end up doing, and I can imagine all kinds of unpleasant things one could do with unlimited genetic engineering capabilities.

Well, the sheer horrors that already exist on this earth in the form of disease are truly grand. Rest assured that even if we do gain access to modifying and creating life, it would take ages before we can get anywhere near as horrid as life already is.

 

[mark kennedy]

I will admit to being a little worried where this will all end up. Anything people can do, they usually end up doing, and I can imagine all kinds of unpleasant things one could do with unlimited genetic engineering capabilities.

I keep finding this sort of thing:

Julian Savulescu, professor of practical ethics at Oxford University, said: "Venter is creaking open the most profound door in humanity's history, potentially peeking into its destiny. He is not merely copying life artificially ... or modifying it radically by genetic engineering. He is going towards the role of a god: creating artificial life that could never have existed naturally."​

I was looking at one of the Sept issues of Nature, the article on the 1,000 genome project caught my attention. I suppose it might make interesting material for a future debate on here at some point but it raises some concerns. As long as Venter is isolating his biotech engineering to a single celled bug I'm not too worried. I just wonder what might occur to people as the secrets of molecular change are revealed.

Grace and peace,
Mark

 

[dewaddict84]

I will admit to being a little worried where this will all end up. Anything people can do, they usually end up doing, and I can imagine all kinds of unpleasant things one could do with unlimited genetic engineering capabilities.

Yeah, horror of horrors, curing diseases, helping the lame, letting the blind see. Gasp. oh no. The horror.

Really, technology in general affects us, do you think that the Internet has had an overall negative effect on humans? Sure, it's definately had some negative effects, but on the whole? A fanstastic development for all of us.
Genetics technology will be similar.

 

[sandwiches]

I will admit to being a little worried where this will all end up. Anything people can do, they usually end up doing, and I can imagine all kinds of unpleasant things one could do with unlimited genetic engineering capabilities.

I have to admit that I share your fears. However, I believe that this is inevitable as any tool has always been used for evil regardless of its benefits, but, on average, it seems like humanity tends to do more good than bad.

 

[Assyrian]

I have to admit that I share your fears. However, I believe that this is inevitable as any tool has always been used for evil regardless of its benefits, but, on average, it seems like humanity tends to do more good than bad.

Not sure averages are that much comfort when a single misuse down along the line of an engineered virus could wipe out most of the population of the planet. On the other hand, if you are holding a tiger by the tail you don't have much choice but to hold on Perhaps if we learned how to sequence bug DNA real fast and come up with mass produced inoculations even faster, we might not only be able to combat an engineered virus, but also tackle all those nasty tropical diseases mainly poor people suffer from and so haven't been as much a priority as wealthy illnesses... So on average... if we survive...

 

[AV1611VET]

The Antichrist, of course, is going to make this Craig Venter look like a kindergarten teacher.

Before he shows up though, his disciples will come close to what he will do, so as to lessen the shock value.

Just like when evolution was progressing, then stalled until Darwin showed up with his breakthrough technology, abiogenesis will stall until the Antichrist shows up and makes it look like a piece of cake with some breakthrough technology (probably associated with the number 666).

 

[sandwiches]

The Antichrist, of course, is going to make this Craig Venter look like a kindergarten teacher.

Before he shows up though, his disciples will come close to what he will do, so as to lessen the shock value.

Just like when evolution was progressing, then stalled until Darwin showed up with his breakthrough technology, abiogenesis will stall until the Antichrist shows up and makes it look like a piece of cake with some breakthrough technology (probably associated with the number 666).

What is this? I don't even...

Darwin's 'breakthrough technology?' What does that even mean? Have you had your morning coffee, yet, AV?

 

[AV1611VET]

What is this? I don't even...

Darwin's 'breakthrough technology?' What does that even mean? Have you had your morning coffee, yet, AV?

Evolution was being discussed in Darwin's time -- (his father and grandfather discussed it); but no one could adequately explain how it worked until Darwin proposed his view of natural selection.

 

[sandwiches]

Evolution was being discussed in Darwin's time -- (his father and grandfather discussed it); but no one could adequately explain how it worked until Darwin proposed his view of natural selection.

Using what 'breakthrough technology?'

 

[sfs]

Yeah, horror of horrors, curing diseases, helping the lame, letting the blind see. Gasp. oh no. The horror.

Really, technology in general affects us, do you think that the Internet has had an overall negative effect on humans? Sure, it's definately had some negative effects, but on the whole? A fanstastic development for all of us.
Genetics technology will be similar.

That seems like rather an overreaction to my comments. Where did I suggest that there would be no positive consequences, or that we should stop? (Do you know what I do for a living?) Technology has led to tremendous gains for human welfare, and many losses as well -- do you think the development of high explosives was a net gain for humanity, for example? Genetic engineering is going to be an extremely powerful form of technology, so the consequences (good, bad and morally ambiguous) are likely to be sweeping.

 

[marktheblake]

I just thought it was interesting how the technology is progressing

Indeed, I still cant get my mind around ordering custom made synthetic DNA online.
www.dna20.com

 

[AV1611VET]

www.dna20.com

Is this a joke; or is it the real thing?

(Sorry, I'm new at this -- DNA wasn't around when I was born. )

 

[marktheblake]

Its the real thing mate, you want a sequence you just tell them what you want and they post it to you.

They will be selling this stuff on eBay next.

 

[AV1611VET]

Its the real thing mate, you want a sequence you just tell them what you want and they post it to you.

Let's all go back to Genesis 6, eh?

Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

They will be selling this stuff on eBay next.

Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

 

[Assyrian]

Let's all go back to Genesis 6, eh?

Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Where does Genesis 6 say they were making artificial DNA?

They will be selling this stuff on eBay next.

Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

eBay checks you have the mark of the beast

 

[juvenissun]

Does the "story" of the Tower of Babel have any other practical meaning except things related to language? Why would God want to intervene?

All of a sudden, we are building another one again. This time, the unified language used is the computer algorithm.

This has to be a sign.