Creating New Form of Life

little_monkey · #1 09-09-2008, 01:16 PM

''A lab led by Jack Szostak, a molecular biologist at Harvard Medical School, is building simple cell models that can almost be called life. Szostak's protocells are built from fatty molecules that can trap bits of nucleic acids that contain the source code for replication. Combined with a process that harnesses external energy from the sun or chemical reactions, they could form a self-replicating, evolving system that satisfies the conditions of life, but isn't anything like life on earth now, but might represent life as it began or could exist elsewhere in the universe.''

From Biologists on the Verge of Creating New Form of Life | Wired Science from Wired.com

This seems to indicate that life would have originated on Earth based on natural laws -- laws that can be discovered by humans in a laboratory environment.

What are the implications of this new discovery/technology on CREATIONISM?

Engyo · #2 09-09-2008, 01:55 PM

I dunno, get kicked out of the Garden for eating of the Tree of Knowledge?

Heneni · #3 09-09-2008, 02:08 PM

What are the implications of this new discovery/technology on CREATIONISM?

God was just better at it.

Wandered Off · #4 09-09-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engyo

I dunno, get kicked out of the Garden for eating of the Tree of Knowledge?

We should be satisfied dining from the Trees of Ignorance.

3.14 · #5 09-09-2008, 04:02 PM

awsom now we can launch it into space and tell people we found unknown lifeforms in outer space

Storm · #6 09-09-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by little_monkey

What are the implications of this new discovery/technology on CREATIONISM?

That depends entirely upon which stripe of Creationism you are referring to. The only ones which would have trouble with this have already been soundly thrashed by evolution, making this new discovery superfluous to their standing.

Inky · #7 09-09-2008, 05:03 PM

That's very spiffy. I'm going to keep an eye on that research.

sandy whitelinger · #8 09-13-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by little_monkey

''A lab led by Jack Szostak, a molecular biologist at Harvard Medical School, is building simple cell models that can almost be called life. Szostak's protocells are built from fatty molecules that can trap bits of nucleic acids that contain the source code for replication. Combined with a process that harnesses external energy from the sun or chemical reactions, they could form a self-replicating, evolving system that satisfies the conditions of life, but isn't anything like life on earth now, but might represent life as it began or could exist elsewhere in the universe.''

From Biologists on the Verge of Creating New Form of Life | Wired Science from Wired.com

This seems to indicate that life would have originated on Earth based on natural laws -- laws that can be discovered by humans in a laboratory environment.

What are the implications of this new discovery/technology on CREATIONISM?

Let's see, trying to create life according to a specific plan to achieve a desired result. It sounds like intelligent design to me.

Dunemeister · #9 09-13-2008, 12:09 PM

Yeah, I'm just not sure this proves anything other than what a guy can do with a lot of research money and a facility designed for the purpose. But then again, I'm a bit of a dullard with respect to chemistry. But it seems that there's a deeper philosophical problem. How can a universe of atoms and chemicals that have no teleology/purpose/"proper" function produce things that actually have teleology/purpose/proper function? This isn't a scientific problem, but a deeply philosophical one, and I'm quite sure it rules out atheism (although not evolution).

little_monkey · #10 09-13-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

Yeah, I'm just not sure this proves anything other than what a guy can do with a lot of research money and a facility designed for the purpose. But then again, I'm a bit of a dullard with respect to chemistry. But it seems that there's a deeper philosophical problem. How can a universe of atoms and chemicals that have no teleology/purpose/"proper" function produce things that actually have teleology/purpose/proper function? This isn't a scientific problem, but a deeply philosophical one, and I'm quite sure it rules out atheism (although not evolution).

If life can be produced in a lab according to natural laws, it certainly can arise in nature under natural laws.