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Author Topic: 'Artificial Life' Created  (Read 1543 times)

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Offline ProfessorFarnsworth

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'Artificial Life' Created
« on: May 20, 2010, 11:14:48 PM »
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10132762.stm

Personally I think it's definitely a milestone of humanity to achieve this, but with potential unforeseeable consequences if misused.

Also, I can only imagine the controversy this will spark among ethics and religious circles. :zoinks:
Existence actually has two broad meanings despite its apparent meaningless. The constant reconciliation of all its parts, and the conservation of any closed system as a whole.

Morality can be extrapolated from these meanings to make these two commandments of godless morality: 1). Be in harmony with one another and 2). Care for the environment.

Offline odeon

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2010, 12:36:09 AM »
He took a few shortcuts, though.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

- Albert Einstein

Offline Callaway

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2010, 11:31:53 AM »
I think that there is a large potential for harm in generating artificial bacteria.  It's very interesting what he has achieved, though.

Offline Parts

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #3 on: May 21, 2010, 02:50:35 PM »
Harm and good are two sides of the same coin
"Eat it up.  Wear it out.  Make it do or do without." 

'People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.'
George Bernard Shaw

Osensitive1

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #4 on: May 21, 2010, 05:17:17 PM »
Would you copy the article here?

Offline Gluey

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2010, 09:36:42 PM »
fuck the controversey I want clones of me than we can all bitch and rant togther
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Offline Parts

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2010, 09:38:54 PM »
If done right this can be great but all it takes is one asshole to fuck it up and turn the public against it
"Eat it up.  Wear it out.  Make it do or do without." 

'People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.'
George Bernard Shaw

Offline RageBeoulve

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2010, 07:27:30 AM »
This pretty much spells the end of humanity in it's current form. Evolution will be a thing of the past now. We will now choose our own path.
"I’m fearless in my heart.
They will always see that in my eyes.
I am the passion; I am the warfare.
I will never stop...
always constant, accurate, and intense."

  - Steve Vai, "The Audience is Listening"

Offline Parts

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2010, 10:23:38 AM »
This pretty much spells the end of humanity in it's current form. Evolution will be a thing of the past now. We will now choose our own path.


And this is a bad thing?
"Eat it up.  Wear it out.  Make it do or do without." 

'People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.'
George Bernard Shaw

Scrapheap

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2010, 12:08:30 PM »
fuck the controversey I want clones of me than we can all bitch and rant togther

 :lol:

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #10 on: May 24, 2010, 12:10:57 PM »
This pretty much spells the end of humanity in it's current form. Evolution will be a thing of the past now. We will now choose our own path.

Evolution is inescapable. What this technology does is let us accelerate the process.

Offline Vertex

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2010, 07:08:02 AM »
This pretty much spells the end of humanity in it's current form. Evolution will be a thing of the past now. We will now choose our own path.

Evolution is inescapable. What this technology does is let us accelerate the process.

Yes I think it helps to accelerate evolution, whether that is in a 'good' or 'bad' direction is really open to debate. What I like is the enhanced management of evolution that this kind of technology will bring. Natural selection can be a harsh bitch. Childhood cancer? Sickle cell anemia? Autism (Couldn't resist) the list goes on...

Seriously though, why wouldn't you want to prevent some nastiness before it happens?

As a sidenote, I dislike the phenomenon of separating co-joined twins and the parents who insist on trying to save them when they are clearly a lost cause. It just seems like a deplorable waste of resources when it would have been much better to abort and have another go. I think if it happens twice in a row then you have bigger problems than having a rightful heir(s) to your little empire after you're gone. There was a story of a couple in the UK who had co-joined twins and decided not to abort and then there was a massive operation to separate them that failed while they were weeks old. I don't know for sure but I think the state picked up the bill for that one. You would hope the surgeons would have learned some useful and transferable skills from all that effort. So back to my point, problems like this need not be problems in future, and yes I don't think everything will be biscuits and tea either...

Offline Vertex

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2010, 07:13:42 AM »
This pretty much spells the end of humanity in it's current form. Evolution will be a thing of the past now. We will now choose our own path.


And this is a bad thing?

We've already been choosing our own path to some extent. Drugs, welfare state and dating sites based on personal income come to mind.

Scrapheap

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #13 on: May 26, 2010, 01:38:14 AM »
Rat Fink says: :belch:

Offline Alex179

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Re: 'Artificial Life' Created
« Reply #14 on: May 26, 2010, 09:12:43 AM »
I just want clones or robots to do all the work for me, so I can sit on my ass and play videogames all day.
:P   Internets are super serious.