Mad scientist or profit center?
The following video is a commercial from Fidelity Investments. This commerical describes the relatively new field of science called “synthetic biology”–the creation of new life forms by man, computers and laboratories. For example, with some genetic tweaking, scientists have already created a breed of goats that produce a milk that can be spun into spider silk that’s stronger than steel. (How’d you like some of that milk on your Wheaties?)
The commercial mentions other new life forms that may be able to provide some astounding benefits for mankind and predicts that within 50 years we might have more “synthetic” life forms created by man than we currently find in nature.
If you’re an optimist, this commercial offers some exciting possibilities for the future.
If you’re a pessimist, this commercial may seem weird and even scary. I.e., in the pursuit of profits, some corporation or lab or mad scientist will inevitably produce a new life form that will kill us all.
We’ve all seen movies where the world is invaded by monsters from another planet. These aliens almost defeat the human race and almost gain control of the world. But, in the end, mankind prevails.
Well, this commercial at least implies that we might not have to wait for monsters from outer space to invade the earth. Instead, we may be able to create our own monsters right here, in earth-based laboratories.
The world is getting weirder and weirder. Yesteryear’s mad scientist has become today’s profit center. Increasingly, any idea that can make a buck, can’t be crazy or dangerous or even evil. In an “economy” (rather than a “nation”), there is no right or wrong; only profit and loss.
video
00:02:27
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3xArETjua30#!
Dom Mastroserio not (DOM MASTROSERIO)
June 20, 2012 at 6:47 PM
The atom bombs haven’t killed us yet…this might just do the trick.
Donna Voetee
June 20, 2012 at 9:39 PM
Synthetic Biology = Genetic Engineering = War Against God.
Don’t think technical terms like DNA, genes, and chromosomes are in the Bible?
They most certainly are! Seven times we read, “after their kind.”
From the 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language:
kind, n. [Sax. cyn, see Kin] 1. Race; genus; generic class; as in mankind or humankind. In technical language, kind answers to genus. 2. Sort, in a sense more loose than genus
sort, n. 1. a kind or species, any number or collection of individual persons or things characterized by the same or like qualities
characters, characterized [Gr. verb, to scrape, cut, engrave] 1. A mark made by cutting or engraving…stamping or impression…2. To distinguish; to mark, or express the character; to exhibit the peculiar qualities of a person or thing
SO, the division of Creation into kinds, or species, is THE MARK OF GOD on HIS CREATION. To remove that mark and mix the species, to replace God’s mark with the mark of man, is to wage war on God Himself. Synthetic Biology/Genetic Engineering may not be THE mark of THE beast, but it is certainly A mark of A beast, profligate mankind, who is shaking their proud, technological fist at the Creator. Losers!!
Those silly magicians who challenged Moses could not create the tiniest form of life then, but they are still trying!
Greg
June 20, 2012 at 9:48 PM
check this out for some biology http://youtu.be/F0-NPPIeeRk Google Laminin .
Yartap
June 21, 2012 at 12:45 AM
I like science. I like learning. Some of my best knowledge came from going down the wrong path. You know, the “lessens of hard knocks.” If we are going to obtain knowledge, sometimes we have to venture down those paths. We do fear the unknown, don’t we?
I know that many will fear the creation of some type of sub-human. But, we are already heading down that path with the use of drugs to change our moods, GMO foods which create more free radicals, microwave ovens which change the molecular structure of food, cell phones or magnetic fields around us which effect our bodies with increased radiation, and nuclear power (Fukushima) and radiation harms (CT’s, MRI’s and TSA) and etc. We have done it and do it all the time.
The scientist who developed the atomic bomb had calculated that the atomic chain reaction would continue indefinitely, all over the world. So, what did they do? They set off the bomb! (I think God may have step in on that one).
It’s just like with cloning. We feared the creation of sub-humans then. And our government stepped in and put limits and restrictions on the research and use. To think, scientist and doctors could possibly create another person who was just like me (That cannot be good)! But, we did not stop to think that it could be good. You see, with the technology of cloning, we can rebuild our own hands or feet if we lose either. This is what happened in Detroit years ago, two doctors broke the law by cloning a child a new heart after he had drown and lost most of his heart from drowning. They saved his life. And it was all kept very quit.
Al’s right, there is and will be a profit motive behind all things new. I’m not so worried about a mad scientist, rather, I’m worried about the mad man who loves money. They will push a bad idea with lies to recoup any financial losses and they will push a bad idea with lies to make money. Evil is in the world.
But, stop science. Nooooo! We have to venture down that road, then decide what to do.
We have “become as one of us.” (Gen. 3:22). I know good and evil. I am to reach out to the “Tree of Life” or I will surly die. I am to become a son of God. I am to gain wisdom and knowledge to this goal of eternal life.
Ummer
June 21, 2012 at 1:21 AM
Fukushima has already spread all over the world.
…
In about 20 years time, we’ll see the spread of their synthetic endeavors.
Adask
June 21, 2012 at 1:45 AM
My complaint or criticism is not about science. My complaint/criticism is about science in the context of an economy vs. science in the context of a nation. In a “nation,” you have a system of values that ultimately serves the best biological, social and spiritual issues of the people. In an “economy,” your system of values completely shifts to serve one interest only: the pursuit of money. Science in pursuit of knowledge that’s intended to help mankind or even the nation is generally admirable. Science in pursuit of the almighty dollar is absolutely dangerous because it is unrestrained and recognizes no value except profit and loss.
I know that in real life, it’s not possible to draw an exact line between the values of a nation and the values of an economy. But there are degrees, shades of gray, between the two extremes and the closer our motives approach the values of an “economy,” the greater the danger.
kyron l. riley
June 22, 2012 at 10:50 AM
I have one question for you Adask,what is your definition of ‘real life?”.
Cody
June 21, 2012 at 1:04 AM
Steven Brixey
June 21, 2012 at 2:24 AM
Just because we can does not mean we should play God.
Mankind just keeps tempting the Law of Unintended Consequences.
I blame synthetic biology for helping kill off the honey bee population.
Tony
June 21, 2012 at 8:51 AM
Classic difference between intelligence and wisdom. To me, playing this dna game is thinking to be able to wield something whose possibilities are far too great for our limited understanding.
In my opinion, this is completely insane.
tim
June 21, 2012 at 2:13 PM
I agree the world is getting weirder and weirder. One can only imagine what will be next.
kyron l. riley
June 22, 2012 at 10:47 AM
God created science for man to learn about Him through His creation and also learn that everything around has a degree of complexity that only a Creator could create.For example,our computers.We know our computers didn’t make themselves (Big Bang Theory talk).Someone HAD to have a blueprint for the creation of the computer.Just like DNA in humans,plants,AND animals is our blueprint.As far as synthetic biology,to quote King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:9 “There is nothing new under the sun.”.Men (and women) have been trying to play God for thousands of years.One example is in the Word of God.In the Book of Genesis,the whole world gathered at Babel to construct a tower that could ‘reach the heavens’,presumably if another Flood should come,everyone could run to this tower (Tower of Babel) and be safe.Face it,scientists will NOT be able to create a lifeform from scratch.We cannot even create a single cell,no matter if it is human,animal,or plant.Scientists should just give up trying to create life from scratch,(obviously they must be worried about something) and instead,learn more about they already know about God’s (not Big Bang’s) creation.Just some thoughts of mine spoken in truth….
Adask
June 22, 2012 at 5:25 PM
I know that distinguishing “real” from “synthetic” life is not easy or precise. For example, are the various breeds of dogs (which are all primarily derived from wolves) “real” or “synthetic”? Technically, a doberman pincher is a “man-made” breed and arguably “synthetic”.
What about crops like wheat or corn? Even before we started on genetically modified foods, mankind was selecting the seeds of the stronger, taller, more robust plants for reseeding and eating the seeds of the weaker plants. By means of selecting certain seeds, even primitive mankind essentially “created” new varieties of plants that were more efficient, fruitful, etc. This kind of selection borders on “synthetic biology”.
Nevertheless, I’d define “real life” to be life whose genetic code exists “naturally” in the world. Real life is “natural” life that would exist purely without being caused by man.