Dr. Craig Venter just achieved a remarkable scientific breakthrough. According to his press release, He produced the "first self-replicating species we've had on the planet whose parent is a computer." (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/21/science/21cell.html)
Others with impressive credentials, though, say though his achievement may be impressive, his press release is considerably overblown. "That said, this is not the creation of artificial life. The scientists have used an existing cell as the vehicle for the new genome. And the medium in which they synthesized what they produced was live yeast cells in which they created their new artificial chromosomes to inject into live host bacteria cells."
(http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-dr-venters-research-has-thrilling-possibilities-1979991.html)
News articles heralded the experiment as the creation of an artificial life-form.
It reminds me of an old joke. A group of scientists and the Lord were having a contest related to the creation of life. The Lord took a handful of dirt, formed it into the shape of a human-being, and breathed into its nostrils the breath of life. The Lord added a suit of clothes and the new creation sat down to watch the rest of the proceedings. The scientists started to gather up some dirt for their turn. The Lord looked at them, shook His head and said, "Uh uh, create your own dirt."
Only God makes something from nothing.
While Venter actually came short of creating life, he did serve to illustrate that life is incredibly complex--certainly not the product of infinite chance.
It's STTA.
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