SocraticGadfly: Is “artificial life” here?

October 06, 2007

Is “artificial life” here?

The Guardian is claiming renowned DNA sequencer Craig Venterhas created an artificial chromosome. Venter says the paper is jumping the gun, that an announcement, in an appropriate scientific journal, is months away.

Note that he’s not denying he’s on track, though.

A couple of questions.

1. What’s your take on ethics? As a secular naturalist, I have no problems with this. My only immediate concern is technological, that Venter’s lab has appropriate safeguards on place.

2. Will some PETA-type group, or some Religious Right group, attack Venter’s lab?

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