Genetic Coding Revamp

Genetic Coding Revamp

www.the-scientist.com

Scientists have developed a new genetic language …, enabling the construction of designer proteins containing a variety of unnatural elements…
…"It is brilliant," …"[It's] a whole new genetic code [that can be used to create] all sorts of different polymers… "
For years, scientists have been working (on) unnatural amino acids - structurally modified amino acids with different physicochemical and biological properties - into proteins.
..."It opens up an era of synthetic biology ..."

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
timesofindia.i ndiatimes.com
www.newscientist.com
www.newsweek.com
www.livescience.com

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
1/5 of your DNA is owned by US Based firms.
Rebuilt DNA Could Lead to Cloned Neanderthals
First Ancient Human Sequenced

I'm not a Luddite, not really. But this does scare me.

We don't understand life as it is, nor the biological basis of life - but we're set to create new life according to new biological principles?

We're just learning how life on earth interacts, and that its bits and parts are inter-dependent in ways previously inconceivable, and that they interact, and how they do.

Seems incredibly dangerous to add all new stuff to the mix...


Note: This thread kept pulling a "syntax error" - trying again here:

According to DNA, You're Half-Human, Half-Virus




www.the-scientist.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Did you really have to post this 4 times?

also... This is being discussed here:

Link to Thread

Originally posted by DaMod
Did you really have to post this 4 times?

No - got a "syntax error" note - didn't know anything went through. ...the other posts are blank, only the title went up. Already notified mods.

also... This is being discussed here:

Link to Thread

Thanks. Glad to hear it - searched, didn't find it. ...Anyway, this is the "Breaking News" Forum - and I do think this is important breaking news.




format

[edit on 16-2-2010 by soficrow]

Looks like scientists are trying to play God again. We don't even know enough about how life works to do this and we have enough problems in our world as it is - shouldn't we foucs on fixing those things first before playing with cloning and DNA?

Originally posted by NightFlyer96
Looks like scientists are trying to play God again. We don't even know enough about how life works to do this and we have enough problems in our world as it is - shouldn't we foucs on fixing those things first before playing with cloning and DNA?

Good question.

And these guys are just so excited about synthetic biology...

..."It opens up an era of synthetic biology where we are truly making synthetic polymers," as opposed to just "tweaking and tinkering" with an existing protein.

…Tom Muir of The Rockefeller University, …agreed ... "This could open the floodgates to all manner of exciting applications."