Religion and Ethics Forum

General Category => Science and Technology => Topic started by: Stranger on March 12, 2017, 11:27:49 AM

Title: Synthetic eukaryotic genome nearly complete
Post by: Stranger on March 12, 2017, 11:27:49 AM: Scientists are close to completing an entire synthetic genome for a microbe that has been used in bread, beer and wine making for more than five thousand years, paving the way for a realm of new organisms designed by the human hand.

Article (The Guardian): Synthetic genome nearly complete, paving way for bespoke organisms (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/mar/09/synthetic-yeast-genome-nearly-complete-paving-way-for-bespoke-organisms)

Paper (Science): Design of a synthetic yeast genome (http://science.sciencemag.org/content/355/6329/1040)
Title: Re: Synthetic eukaryotic genome nearly complete
Post by: ekim on March 12, 2017, 02:38:34 PM: I wonder if the process can be weaponised too.
Title: Re: Synthetic eukaryotic genome nearly complete
Post by: SweetPea on March 12, 2017, 02:50:30 PM: I'm generally agin anything to do with GMOs but this could actually be a saviour against the dreaded 'candida' which can cause so many problems from thrush to disorientation.
Title: Re: Synthetic eukaryotic genome nearly complete
Post by: Jack Knave on March 12, 2017, 06:39:29 PM: I'll read it later, but I agree with Ekim it could be used to create some form of weaponry. These things usually are.
Title: Re: Synthetic eukaryotic genome nearly complete
Post by: Stranger on March 12, 2017, 07:34:16 PM: Quote from: ekim on March 12, 2017, 02:38:34 PM
I wonder if the process can be weaponised too.

I'm sure it could be. However, there are many far simpler ways to kill people - including natural bio-agents and simpler genetic modification.
Title: Re: Synthetic eukaryotic genome nearly complete
Post by: Jack Knave on March 13, 2017, 07:14:49 PM: Perhaps they could design a genome etc. to produce artificial meat or protein and so save us on all that methane and wasted cereal on cattle.