CNN Gets 'Synthetic Life' Right in the Headlines

[Violet]

I never stated they made life from scratch, nor did any article. They did create synthetic life though. Just as two parents can create natural life (not from scratch), these scientists created synthetic life (also not from scratch).

Creation of anything from scratch violates the conservation of energy...that is, energy cannot be created or destroyed. It's a pretty simple thing to understand; you just failed to do that.

"Scratch" isn't nothing... or else those blueberry pancakes from scratch wouldn't a: exist, or b: be so tasty.

---

Then by your own definition, nobody can ever create life from scratch, since everyone is a living organism, ergo your entire point is meaningless.

The phrase, "From scratch" means: from the very beginning, esp. without utilizing or relying on any previous work for assistance. Remember... this phrase ("from scratch") is colloquial. I'm with you to an extent otherwise (i only really deter when the insulting starts)

So basically: I disagree, Adrian... think of it like forming a language from 'scratch'. While it would be much easier to use characters that already exist... and to copy sounds/words of other languages: it remains possible to build the language completely separate of all others. Forming life from 'scratch' is not dissimilar... while it would be much easier to use protein chains that already exist (ie: 'chunks' of DNA)... and to copy functions/designs of other life: it remains (at least theoretically) possible to build life completely separate of all others.

Perhaps a bit more thought should go into your posts next time. When they eventually do create a cell from scratch, I bet you'll be there complaining loudly that they used already-made chemicals and matter to do it. Just be a man and admit you simply made a semantic mistake.

If they used already made chemicals... then they by definition did not do it 'from scratch' Don't defy the tautology! They won't let you!

The thing that separates life from non-life is genetic code; DNA, self-replication, etc. This is the part they created. Just because they used a natural cell doesn't mean that their work creating the actual "life" in that cell is any less valid.

Dead DNA-based life still has DNA... but it would hardly be accused of being alive Instead... life is a title one should use on the status of a thing being alive... and it is this status that defines life... not the components what build it. Minor issue perhaps... but it just won't do for when synthetic intelligences begin to ask 'am I alive'.

---

so much for some guy that got accepted to cambridge. lol

Rather, he is thinking deeper than the dictionary. I agree with him that to make something "from scratch" (as the dictionary defines it) is utterly impossible... and I also tend to get verbally attacked every time I question definitions or where they apply/do not apply. However, it is a colloquial phrase... and as such is not designed for philosophers and intelligent individuals. We may redefine it as 'building the chair by making the parts, then putting them together (as apposed to having the parts prepped for assembly)'... but he is ultimately correct. My above disagreement, however, is from the colloquial intentions of the phrase