South Korean Scientists Cloned Glowing Cat

[DesR85]

While I was browsing DailyTech yesterday, I come across an article in the science section titled: South Korean Scientists Cloned Glowing Cat. Creepy. It just smacks of scientists playing God. Just my opinion.

Comments?

[Eric V]

i agree i mean whats the point. didnt anybody learn from star wars attack of the clones

[dragon wench]

Well if it does lead to breakthroughs in medical science, it will be extremely interesting. Since I don't have the background, I won't comment on the potential feasibility of any of it though.

I admit, however, that I'm uncomfortable at using animals in this sort of manner.

[Eric V]

my wife has 4 cats so i know she wouldnt be down with it thats for sure

[Tricky]

Hmm. Actually, I think I could appreciate a night light that can walk with me to the bathroom.

[Xandax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricky Hmm. Actually, I think I could appreciate a night light that can walk with me to the bathroom.

Hmm - was thinking something similar

[Maharlika]

... you guys have this thing for cats in the bathroom?!!!

Nasty.

@Des: That's a step ahead towards apocalypse if you ask me.

[Tricky]

Ooo, a glow-in-the-dark Catwoman! I could definitely like that!

[Vicsun]

If relatively simple gene modification is scientists "playing God" and it worries you, I'm interested in your opinion on the following piece:

Synthetic DNA on the Brink of Yielding New Life Forms

It has been 50 years since scientists first created DNA in a test tube, stitching ordinary chemical ingredients together to make life's most extraordinary molecule. Until recently, however, even the most sophisticated laboratories could make only small snippets of DNA -- an extra gene or two to be inserted into corn plants, for example, to help the plants ward off insects or tolerate drought.

Now researchers are poised to cross a dramatic barrier: the creation of life forms driven by completely artificial DNA.

Scientists in Maryland have already built the world's first entirely handcrafted chromosome -- a large looping strand of DNA made from scratch in a laboratory, containing all the instructions a microbe needs to live and reproduce.

In the coming year, they hope to transplant it into a cell, where it is expected to "boot itself up," like software downloaded from the Internet, and cajole the waiting cell to do its bidding. And while the first synthetic chromosome is a plagiarized version of a natural one, others that code for life forms that have never existed before are already under construction.

The cobbling together of life from synthetic DNA, scientists and philosophers agree, will be a watershed event, blurring the line between biological and artificial -- and forcing a rethinking of what it means for a thing to be alive.

[Moonbiter]

I tell you, it's the mice paying them to do it! For the future of all micekind! This is probably great news for the partied-out ravers on Ibiza.... They use a fortune in glowsticks. Oh, and no more dead cats along the roads.

[DesR85]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicsun If relatively simple gene modification is scientists "playing God" and it worries you, I'm interested in your opinion on the following piece: Synthetic DNA on the Brink of Yielding New Life Forms It has been 50 years since scientists first created DNA in a test tube, stitching ordinary chemical ingredients together to make life's most extraordinary molecule. Until recently, however, even the most sophisticated laboratories could make only small snippets of DNA -- an extra gene or two to be inserted into corn plants, for example, to help the plants ward off insects or tolerate drought. Now researchers are poised to cross a dramatic barrier: the creation of life forms driven by completely artificial DNA. Scientists in Maryland have already built the world's first entirely handcrafted chromosome -- a large looping strand of DNA made from scratch in a laboratory, containing all the instructions a microbe needs to live and reproduce. In the coming year, they hope to transplant it into a cell, where it is expected to "boot itself up," like software downloaded from the Internet, and cajole the waiting cell to do its bidding. And while the first synthetic chromosome is a plagiarized version of a natural one, others that code for life forms that have never existed before are already under construction. The cobbling together of life from synthetic DNA, scientists and philosophers agree, will be a watershed event, blurring the line between biological and artificial -- and forcing a rethinking of what it means for a thing to be alive.

And what does that have to do with cloning? Care to explain?

[Vicsun]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesR85 And what does that have to do with cloning? Care to explain?

Nothing; I'm simply interested in your opinion.

[C Elegans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicsun Nothing; I'm simply interested in your opinion.

One could say it has everything to do with cloning, and with introducing a vector carrying new DNA into the genome as I assume was done to produce the glowing cats. I've heard about the synthetic DNA projects, and I certainly believe it will become reality, it's just a matter of time.

What do I think about scientists playing god? Well, scientists, and a lot of other people as well, have been "playing god" for a very long time now. The human species have altered a variety of "natural" processes including energy cycles, ecosystems, climate and our own life and death. Future use of synthetic DNA does not change the principle of human decisions' influence of life on earth. What's the difference between systematic creation of plants and animals subspecies only to provide us with food, and cloned cats with a simple gene alteration? Is the creation of synthetic DNA more of "playing god" than the creation of medicine that saves the lives of millions who would "naturally" have died otherwise, or intentionally dropping a bomb or two that kills millions of people?

I am not sure what the expression "playing god" actually means, but as I understand it, it refers to taking the questions of life and death into your hands. If my understanding is correct, please somebody explain to me how glowing cats and synthetic DNA is more "playing god" than has already occurred for a very long time.

On a lighter note, these glowing cats may finally make me think pet cats have a use

[Queen_Articuno]

This is IMHO, but cloning is "playing God", so to speak. It disturbs me how mankind feels like he has to interfere in every natural process. (I hate to bring up religion, but....) The Bible refers to mankind's purpose being to "be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:28) In the selection I just typed up, you will notice the word subdue in italics. The reason for this is the original meaning of subdue was to study an object. Today, it means to rule over something.
So, mankind wasn't meant to use knowledge in potentially destructive or chaotic ways. (End religious discussion.)

[dragon wench]

Quote:

So, mankind wasn't meant to use knowledge in potentially destructive or chaotic ways.

I do appreciate what you are saying, and I hope you have the same views on issues like dropping atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki...

But, you also need to realise that not everybody shares your beliefs, so pronouncing what mankind was or, was not, intended to do is irrelevant to somebody who is not of your particular faith.