artifical life??

JCricket · #1 05-21-2010, 06:28 AM

This was on AK, probably most of you have seen it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_a...t/10132762.stm

What say you?

I think maybe ultra scary is my first reaction.

Which party gets the vote of the synthetic human(when accomplished)? Or are they allowed to vote?

Sandy G · #2 05-21-2010, 07:00 AM

Yep. Despite my silly, flippant comment Over There, I think that there's a VERY good reason that there's NOT an intermediate species between us & the other great apes...We would have undoubtedly enslaved/abused them long ago. Our track record w/treatment of other species, let's face it, is NOT very good, saying nothing about the stellar way we treat each other....

JCricket · #3 05-21-2010, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy G

Yep. Despite my silly, flippant comment Over There, I think that there's a VERY good reason that there's NOT an intermediate species between us & the other great apes...We would have undoubtedly enslaved/abused them long ago. Our track record w/treatment of other species, let's face it, is NOT very good, saying nothing about the stellar way we treat each other....

Well heck, I thought we were the stewards of the earth. These creatures were put here for us to enjoy and use as we see fit. They are just DUMB animals right? We have souls and they don't, right?

I gotta admit, I twinge a bit as I wrote that - even though it is totally meant with sarcasm.

EDIT: My lack of sensitivity and regard for the religious right on this post is unacceptable. My apologies if I offended anyone.
Mark

piece-itpete · #4 05-21-2010, 08:07 AM

If a cow is equal to a human we're all burning in hell.

If it's not then it's just a matter of degree. Don't feel too guilty

It's about time we figured out how to manipulate organic machines (of which we are one). You could say it's how God does it.

Think about it, purpose designed and built self repairing machines, and enviromentally friendly (organic). Program the DNA, it assembles itself out of a vat of chemicals. Seriously cool stuff.

Pete

JCricket · #5 05-21-2010, 08:13 AM

Well, you could stretch this just a little. Say you extraced your or my DNA. In put it inot a cell and implant that into a uterous. Walla, cloned. Now that opens a can of worms. Ethically, politically, and legally. The imagination of possibilities is endless.

piece-itpete · #6 05-21-2010, 08:29 AM

I wouldn't want a copy of myself around. Self righteous ass who's always right, it would drive me insane

My SO would divorce us both

Outside of wacko sci-fi cults with scary looking female spokesmen, it's unlikey to happen for a while. I agree though, interesting proposition. And no, I doubt they could vote until the natural person is dead - one man, one vote lol.

You know somewhere some loons are attempting human cloning. I'd hate to see their, um, attempts. Hope it haunts them.

Pete

PS - no apologies needed

If that's the worst then you're one of the site gentlemen, seriously. Cheers.

JCricket · #7 05-21-2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

I wouldn't want a copy of myself around. Self righteous ass who's always right, it would drive me insane

Hmm, so would you always be a yes man with yourself or fight insanely because you would both always be right? That makes me nuts!

I wonder, if they can do this, how close they are to actually finding the "life force" that distinguishes inanimate cells to living cells?

piece-itpete · #8 05-21-2010, 09:05 AM

At least our musical tastes would be the same

I've thought about the artifical life thing. What it comes down to in my mind is, how do you know? If 'it' acts exactly like the 'real' thing....

AI is a good example. Pretty soon they'll have programs that seem human discussionwise etc. how do you know? (I cloned that statement from the last paragraph

)

Maybe if you solve a bunch of murder mysteries with parter R Daneel Olivaw on various worlds you might get an inkling

Pete

Fast_Eddie · #9 05-21-2010, 09:20 AM

This is fantastic. Amazing implications. I'm really excited to hear about it.

d-ray657 · #10 05-21-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Think about it, purpose designed and built self repairing machines, and enviromentally friendly (organic). Program the DNA, it assembles itself out of a vat of chemicals. Seriously cool stuff.

Pete

If you think organic machines are environmentally friendly, it's clear that you have never been in the vicinity of a pig farm.

We humans are some of the most environmentally unfriendly beings, not e,ven taking into account all of the pollution caused by the machines we build. We eat meat, which requires enormous agricultural resources to produce; our waste is a huge source of disease; we're constantly expelling carbon monoxide - we're just a mess.

Regards,

D-Ray