OT: Superman and Stemcells - Page 2

Huzurdaddi · #1 October 12th, 2004, 07:32 PM

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It is easier (by far) to modify existing DNA than create DNA from scratch. By analogy, it used to be easier to dig up diamonds than make them in a lab.

I think a more apt analogy would be that it is easier to cut and paste code from samples into a new program than to program from scratch. Or that it is easier to program using libraries than to program using only keywords.

DNA is little more than the memory system of a computer ( plus a little CPU thrown in for good luck ).

And I think we'll be engineering our own sooner rather than later if moore's law ( observation? ) continues to play out.

Gandalf Parker · #2 October 12th, 2004, 07:27 PM

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Arryn said:If said experiment turns out a breathing, thinking human, where will that leave religion (and what many religions teach about humans)?

Wont disturb mine. Now when you can do it without the egg or sperm as a starting point then it will get interesting. (virtual life? AI? energy-based conciousness? Commander Data? the Dr Hologram-guy?)

Gandalf Parker · #3 October 12th, 2004, 07:23 PM

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Evil Dave said:

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Gandalf Parker said:

But my initial point of "both" is that some are perfectly willing to accept that the world was created, and evolution was the tool. Thats only a major point of contention with the christian crowd as far as I know.

Gandalf, are you arguing for Newton's blind watchmaker? God wound up the world and set it going according to physical laws?
I'm not trying to argue (yet

), but just trying to understand what you're saying.

For many there is the belief that the world was created or at least put in motion, to a plan. For many of those there is nothing saying that the plan couldnt be billions of years of evolution. Trying to push all creationists into the can of some 6-day timeline is going for an easy argument (and kindof christio-obnoxious which is what torqs me off)