Yesterday the media had the splash headlines that a group lead by Craig Venter (of Human Genome fame) has successfully created the first synthetic living organism. This new life is also known as Synthia. There has already been a media response about the potential dangers and the need to think about the possible implications. The BBC coverage of the story is linked below:
Artificial Life Breakthrough
Susan Watt's Blog post
Ben Goldacre was less impressed
"This new Synthia lifeform business is slightly overstated, nice proof of concept and doubtless fidlly as f**k, but nothing amazingly new."
The US Government has made a response with President Obama sending a letter to request a Bioethical review of the matter.
Obama Letter to Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues
This provoked some interesting Tweet responses:
"*Of course* Obama has to consult *faith communtities" about Synthia. What a ridiculous country the US has become. :<"
"Obama was doing so well until he mentioned faith communities. No point, we know they'll be up in arms about Synthia, the halfwit Luddites."
PS I just read the front pages of today's papers which have headlines like God2.0. The problem with Venter is he has a very large ego and he likes to create a big spectacle. I suspect that he will regret the God2.0 epithet as when Obama consults the faith communities it is not going to go down well and I would predict harsh legislation.
There is also this Guardian article on the atheistic background to the research:
Andrew Brown - Guardian CiF
Pharyngula has summarised the ill-informed responses in the media
Pharyngula's Blog
Artificial Life Breakthrough
Susan Watt's Blog post
Ben Goldacre was less impressed
"This new Synthia lifeform business is slightly overstated, nice proof of concept and doubtless fidlly as f**k, but nothing amazingly new."
The US Government has made a response with President Obama sending a letter to request a Bioethical review of the matter.
Obama Letter to Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues
This provoked some interesting Tweet responses:
"*Of course* Obama has to consult *faith communtities" about Synthia. What a ridiculous country the US has become. :<"
"Obama was doing so well until he mentioned faith communities. No point, we know they'll be up in arms about Synthia, the halfwit Luddites."
PS I just read the front pages of today's papers which have headlines like God2.0. The problem with Venter is he has a very large ego and he likes to create a big spectacle. I suspect that he will regret the God2.0 epithet as when Obama consults the faith communities it is not going to go down well and I would predict harsh legislation.
There is also this Guardian article on the atheistic background to the research:
Andrew Brown - Guardian CiF
Pharyngula has summarised the ill-informed responses in the media
Pharyngula's Blog
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