Break-thru in Artificial DNA

Godfather.
Godfather. Posts: 12,504
in A Moving Train
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/05/08/scientists-create-organism-using-artificial-dna/

Medical advances and what else ? I'm thinking this could actually cure cancer one day or even repair spinal injuries but I hope they don't use it to clone people or even extinct animals (prehoristic animals) any thoughts ?

Godfather.

Comments

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,838
    This sounds like good news in a way but I'm skeptical about some of this DNA research.

    I remember reading somewhere that the only reason we age is because our cells lose their ability to regenerate properly over time which is why we begin to sag, our skin wrinkles, and eventually we die. The article went on to talk about how scientists one day may be able to stop this cell degeneration allowing us to live indefinitely. Yes, I would love to live long enough to hear every piece of music in the world and read every good book that has ever been published- the only problem is, this planet cannot sustain 7 billion people endlessly (it's already under enough stress).
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Godfather.
    Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    brianlux said:

    This sounds like good news in a way but I'm skeptical about some of this DNA research.

    I remember reading somewhere that the only reason we age is because our cells lose their ability to regenerate properly over time which is why we begin to sag, our skin wrinkles, and eventually we die. The article went on to talk about how scientists one day may be able to stop this cell degeneration allowing us to live indefinitely. Yes, I would love to live long enough to hear every piece of music in the world and read every good book that has ever been published- the only problem is, this planet cannot sustain 7 billion people endlessly (it's already under enough stress).

    I didn't think about that....good thought I agree man !

    Godfather.

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,838
    Godfather. said:

    brianlux said:

    This sounds like good news in a way but I'm skeptical about some of this DNA research.

    I remember reading somewhere that the only reason we age is because our cells lose their ability to regenerate properly over time which is why we begin to sag, our skin wrinkles, and eventually we die. The article went on to talk about how scientists one day may be able to stop this cell degeneration allowing us to live indefinitely. Yes, I would love to live long enough to hear every piece of music in the world and read every good book that has ever been published- the only problem is, this planet cannot sustain 7 billion people endlessly (it's already under enough stress).

    I didn't think about that....good thought I agree man !

    Godfather.

    Well, we may not live forever but may you live long (and prosper) anyway, GF. :-)

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Godfather.
    Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    brianlux said:

    Godfather. said:

    brianlux said:

    This sounds like good news in a way but I'm skeptical about some of this DNA research.

    I remember reading somewhere that the only reason we age is because our cells lose their ability to regenerate properly over time which is why we begin to sag, our skin wrinkles, and eventually we die. The article went on to talk about how scientists one day may be able to stop this cell degeneration allowing us to live indefinitely. Yes, I would love to live long enough to hear every piece of music in the world and read every good book that has ever been published- the only problem is, this planet cannot sustain 7 billion people endlessly (it's already under enough stress).

    I didn't think about that....good thought I agree man !

    Godfather.

    Well, we may not live forever but may you live long (and prosper) anyway, GF. :-)


    and you also my friend !


    Godfather.

  • blueandwhite
    blueandwhite Posts: 662
    Live indefinitely? I wouldn't bet on it. If we ever manage to obtain genetic immortality you can bet that only the richest of us would be able to afford it.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,838
    blueandwhite said:

    Live indefinitely? I wouldn't bet on it. If we ever manage to obtain genetic immortality you can bet that only the richest of us would be able to afford it.

    That's probably quite true! But I wouldn't want immortality if it was free. To not be able to complete the cycle that is life and death? Ludicrous!

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Godfather.
    Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    brianlux said:

    blueandwhite said:

    Live indefinitely? I wouldn't bet on it. If we ever manage to obtain genetic immortality you can bet that only the richest of us would be able to afford it.

    That's probably quite true! But I wouldn't want immortality if it was free. To not be able to complete the cycle that is life and death? Ludicrous!

    agreed ! also...... if the founding fathers were still alive they'd be pissed LOL!!!!

    Godfather.
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    edited May 2014
    To me, it's a double-edged sword.

    Living for the sake of just being alive (and maybe looking good in the process - such incentive!) goes against nature's grain. Would the mind be still there, or just body?

    By the same token, DNA and other manipulation such as using stem cells could make a huge difference to those with MS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, etc.

    Progress laced with ramifications?
  • mickeyrat
    mickeyrat Posts: 45,586
    hedonist said:

    To me, it's a double-edged sword.

    Living for the sake of just being alive (and maybe looking good in the process - such incentive!) goes against nature's grain. Would the mind be still there, or just body?

    By the same token, DNA and other manipulation such as using stem cells could make a huge difference to those with MS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, etc.

    Progress laced with ramifications?

    always.
    _____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________

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  • callen
    callen Posts: 6,388
    Godfather. said:

    brianlux said:

    blueandwhite said:

    Live indefinitely? I wouldn't bet on it. If we ever manage to obtain genetic immortality you can bet that only the richest of us would be able to afford it.

    That's probably quite true! But I wouldn't want immortality if it was free. To not be able to complete the cycle that is life and death? Ludicrous!

    agreed ! also...... if the founding fathers were still alive they'd be pissed LOL!!!!

    Godfather.
    >:)>:)>:)
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  • Hugh Freaking Dillon
    Hugh Freaking Dillon Posts: 14,010
    I have serious doubts that life, pure life, can be recreated artificially. Even cloning usually ends in extremely premature death, does it not? I dont want to live forever. Life is long enough now.
    Gimli 1993
    Fargo 2003
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    St. Paul 2014
  • Godfather.
    Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    Hugh Freaking Dillon said:

    I have serious doubts that life, pure life, can be recreated artificially. Even cloning usually ends in extremely premature death, does it not? I dont want to live forever. Life is long enough now.

    agree and well said.

    Godfather.

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