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Invention of DNA "page numbers" opens up possibilities for the bioeconomy

caltech.edu

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Re: Invention of DNA "page numbers" opens up possibilities for the bioeconomy

#11

Post by vee-kay »

wartywhoa23 wrote: post #4
unsupp0rted wrote: post #3

This is probably the only way "humans" are going to colonize any planets other than Earth. And probably lots of new places on Earth too. Just include the genes for extreme-cold or extreme-arid climates. Or the genes for low oxygen environments, or even for metabolizing useful things from eating rocks. Or from spending 24 hours a day in salt water.

The ease of this "just" is the most concerning thing in the context of humankind's survival.

Then I recommend you don't find out what "Project Molecule" intends to do.

Re: Invention of DNA "page numbers" opens up possibilities for the bioeconomy

#12

Post by vee-kay »

Traubenfuchs wrote: post #7
unsupp0rted wrote: post #3

This is probably the only way "humans" are going to colonize any planets other than Earth. And probably lots of new places on Earth too. Just include the genes for extreme-cold or extreme-arid climates. Or the genes for low oxygen environments, or even for metabolizing useful things from eating rocks. Or from spending 24 hours a day in salt water.

Oh if only science was not constrained by ethics. I can already see the people protesting against the creation of space marines.

Science has never been constrained by ethics.

The same scientists who cry about ethics, have happily experimented on mice and guinea pigs in their labs, even if it causes the deaths or distress of those little sentient beings.

Mutations/mutatives like Halo's Master Chief and Marvel's Super Soldier serum won't remain sci-fi for much longer, methinks.

Re: Invention of DNA "page numbers" opens up possibilities for the bioeconomy

#13

Post by krzat »

unsupp0rted wrote: post #3

This is probably the only way "humans" are going to colonize any planets other than Earth. And probably lots of new places on Earth too. Just include the genes for extreme-cold or extreme-arid climates. Or the genes for low oxygen environments, or even for metabolizing useful things from eating rocks. Or from spending 24 hours a day in salt water.

Imagine if we could turn our bodies into perfect spheres, and then adjust genetic beauty preferences to match it.

Re: Invention of DNA "page numbers" opens up possibilities for the bioeconomy

#15

Post by throwaway198846 »

unsupp0rted wrote: post #3

This is probably the only way "humans" are going to colonize any planets other than Earth. And probably lots of new places on Earth too. Just include the genes for extreme-cold or extreme-arid climates. Or the genes for low oxygen environments, or even for metabolizing useful things from eating rocks. Or from spending 24 hours a day in salt water.

There is no way it is just "just". And we should start from simpler stuff like vitamin B12, C and D.

Re: Invention of DNA "page numbers" opens up possibilities for the bioeconomy

#16

Post by unsupp0rted »

throwaway198846 wrote: post #15
unsupp0rted wrote: post #3

This is probably the only way "humans" are going to colonize any planets other than Earth. And probably lots of new places on Earth too. Just include the genes for extreme-cold or extreme-arid climates. Or the genes for low oxygen environments, or even for metabolizing useful things from eating rocks. Or from spending 24 hours a day in salt water.

There is no way it is just "just". And we should start from simpler stuff like vitamin B12, C and D.

Everything is “just” eventually.

Just tell your car to drive you to the airport. On the way just tell it to play that song you like.

Re: Invention of DNA "page numbers" opens up possibilities for the bioeconomy

#18

Post by melagonster »

vee-kay wrote: post #12
Traubenfuchs wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh if only science was not constrained by ethics. I can already see the people protesting against the creation of space marines.

Science has never been constrained by ethics. The same scientists who cry about ethics, have happily experimented on mice and guinea pigs in their labs, even if it causes the deaths or distress of those little sentient beings. Mutations/mutatives like Halo's Master Chief and Marvel's Super Soldier serum won't remain sci-fi for much longer, methinks.

And save human life at the same time? Experiments are not just about torturing animals; people spend a lot of time optimizing for experiment design.

Re: Invention of DNA "page numbers" opens up possibilities for the bioeconomy

#19

Post by jycnaw »

Movies that come to mind that involve genetic building at this level are Gremlins 2, The Clone Wars, and some in the Alien franchise.

Yes, someone has attempted in the last to breed or alter for specific traits, we’ve cloned many kinds of life, and if there was extraterrestrial life here, someone probably mixed it with humans and animals.

But the pace of this is not going to increase anytime soon, if history is a judge. CRISPR was scaring people years ago when publicized, but those worries were unfounded and so shall these be. Life is much harder than coding apps.

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