Artificial Life asks Fundamental Questions of the Living

Artificial Life asks Fundamental Questions of the Living

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/24/AR2008012402203.html?hpid=sec-health

Scientists have taken laboratory chemicals and produced synthetic DNA. This DNA should be sufficient to allow a bacteria to live, and reproduce. Shortly, these same scientists will denucleate a bacterium and insert their synthetic DNA and in essence create the first artificial life form. It is akin to cleaning out a computer’s hard-drive and putting in a new operating system.

The molecules are minuscule, but the questions loom large. To a creationist: can the created become creators? To the atheist: in a universe without a creator, can there be creators? Paradoxically, the answer to both would appear to be yes.

I’ve always held that science and religion were approaching the same territory from opposite angles. Today’s finding would appear to suggest that we’re approaching their final destination: meaning.

One thought on “Artificial Life asks Fundamental Questions of the Living

  1. To your point, To a creationist: can the created become creators? To the atheist: in a universe without a creator, can there be creators? Paradoxically, the answer to both would appear to be yes.

    Many would suggest that we the created are not just becoming creators, we are the G-d’s of the future Whether you’re Real, or a scientist, life will eventually be devoid of any physical human interation. As for science and religion and for humanity broaching the divide between the two, both are theoretical, and today’s theory is tomorrow’s has been.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Back To Top