Scientists create synthetic life.

[Tiberius]

are you drunk dude?

If you want to have a serious discussion, don't post stupid comments. I'm not discussing semantics with you any further.

[The_Flying_Skeptic]

are you drunk dude?

If you want to have a serious discussion, don't post stupid comments. I'm not discussing semantics with you any further.

wow... this is serious. this is probably one of the greatest achievements in biology in a long time, even having theological implications, and you think the semantics aren't important? If you can't admit the confusion that may be caused by not clarifying the difference between partially synthetic and entirely synthetic life, you are the one being stupid.

already, atheists on this thread have made misleading exaggerations on how this new information may be used: 'now i can answer that pesky question: have your scientists created life?' 'God = man' We need to prepare ourselves for the reality creationists will learn: they have not created life and as Tiberius agrees with me - the experiment has little to nothing to do with abiogenesis.

@Tiberius, are you trying to 'pick a fight' with me? seems that from the get go you've been trying to not be on the same page as me when we are mostly on the same page. I wasn't trying to insult you because I like you and what you've created here. People have disagreements here all the time, and they even insult one another. Just take a look at the 'objectifying women' thread. I know we aren't best buds or anything but we have been acquaintances for a long time and I hope my not being a part of the podcast (although i'm sure you found someone to replace me who is probably even doing a better job than i would have) or my disagreements with other people won't stop us from being capable of agreeing with each other on something when we know we are on the same page. this does not mean that i think you should suddenly agree with me on anything, but I hope I've at least lightened up the mood between us.

[The_Flying_Skeptic]

in the video Too Dark posted: "Venture's team went DNA shopping and bought more than a thousand short strands of DNA. In the lab, they joined them all together in the right order to create a complete man made copy of the genome of a simple bacteria. then they put it into the cell of a different strain of bacteria, converting it to the new man made strain." - t 02:15 Where are you reading that Venture's team created the genome from scratch?

What's important is that people don't think or use this information to suggest that an organism has been created entirely from scratch when at most they created a functional, distinct genome out of short strands of DNA. If you are reading that they indeed created the DNA that makes up the genome from scratch, which I have no problem with, then even better (then we should know the conditions that are required to create DNA strands in nature or at least be closer to understanding how nature could produce DNA strands), but the media is still exaggerating on what has actually been created thus potentially confusing a lot of people.

[KichigaiNeko]

What's important is that people don't think or use this information to suggest that an organism has been created entirely from scratch when at most they created a functional, distinct genome out of short strands of DNA.

Unfortunately, THAT is precicely what the uneducated are going to think and the theists are going to react to.

If you are reading that they indeed created the DNA that makes up the genome from scratch, which I have no problem with, then even better (then we should know the conditions that are required to create DNA strands in nature or at least be closer to understanding how nature could produce DNA strands),

This is reason for my excitement with this 'discovery'

but the media is still exaggerating on what has actually been created thus potentially confusing a lot of people.

See above. "The Media" get overly excited about anything. But then they ARE a good barometer to the reactions of the 'fundie' mindset

All Kudos to Chris and his team.

[Tiberius]

wow... this is serious. this is probably one of the greatest achievements in biology in a long time, even having theological implications, and you think the semantics aren't important? If you can't admit the confusion that may be caused by not clarifying the difference between partially synthetic and entirely synthetic life, you are the one being stupid.

Oh it's serious? Really? So why the immature jibes asking if I'm "drunk"? I was being serious; you weren't, hence why I said I had nothing more to say.

I didn't need to clarify anything; my original post made it all clear. They created an organism from scratch (i.e. the genetic code).

already, atheists on this thread have made misleading exaggerations on how this new information may be used: 'now i can answer that pesky question: have your scientists created life?' 'God = man' We need to prepare ourselves for the reality creationists will learn: they have not created life and as Tiberius agrees with me - the experiment has little to nothing to do with abiogenesis.

Creating life and abiogenesis are two different things. Abiogenesis is a process of creating life (from non-living matter). Reproduction is a process of creating life (birds and the bees...). This is a new way of creating life. Sequencing the genome from scratch (using 4 sets of chemicals) and placing it in a cell. It's a new species; a new life-form...LIFE!

are you trying to 'pick a fight' with me?

No. I just don't see the point in insulting the people you disagree with in such a manner as to question whether they are in the right state of mind. I didn't say anything that was wrong scientifically; it was you who decided to pick an argument with words.

If you'd actually read the report, or the numerous newspaper articles about it, or watched the entire 12 minute video with Craig Venter explaining what he'd done to the journal "Science", then you might have a better understanding of what they'd done. Previously they'd constructed a minimal genome from the strands of DNA of other organisms, but this time they custom-designed one, including genetic markers (and coded English words) and actually wrote it using a chemical synthesizer.

As Venter explained it; the code was on a computer, which told the synthesizer which chemicals to use next, and the genome was constructed.

[Zen Badger]

And before the xtians start going on about "playing god".

Just remember,"playing god" is what humans do best.

After all, whenever god(in his infinite mercy) gives a child cancer etc

and science then cures it we have played gods game.

And played it much better since we have beaten him at it.

[Paul the Human]

If we didn't play god... who would? There is certainly no god doing it.

[tavarish]

This isn't abiogenesis.This is the creation of an entirely new life form, something that possibly couldn't have formed on its own. The implications of custom tailored organisms is absolutely astounding. This has restored my faith in humanity.

[The_Flying_Skeptic]

@Hayter, I haven't said anything 'scientifically wrong' either. i haven't accused you of saying anything scientifically wrong. I only disagree with you on saying they created 'life' but I agree that they created a new species. I've made this distinction on an earlier post. I really thought you might be drunk when you suggested that 'synthetic life' was an accurate, unambiguous description of what has been created. They swapped the genome of one organism with their genome they made from scratch (i'll take your word for it unless you can tell me where Venture said this and made the distinction from what was mentioned in the video i quoted for you or i'll just go do the research my self if you prefer, whatever), they did not create the whole organism. Would you say that Frankenstein was created molecule by molecule?

"Abiogenesis is a process of creating life (from non-living matter)"

your definition of abiogenesis and your description of what Venture did are indistinguishable. are you saying that the molecules he used to make the new genome were 'living matter'? Let me clarify to everyone: I'm not saying that they did 'abiogenesis'; I'm just pointing out need for better choice of words.

[Minimalist]

One always need to be careful to avoid the media-hype which is inserted. The scientific paper is due to be released today. One suspects the headline writers will avoid it like the plague.

Xtians, or course, will not be able to understand any of it.