MyKell

I just finished Reading Staurt Kauffman's "At home in the universe", and have read some online material about his book "Investigations". Who are the people trying to construct those autocatalytic webs Kauffman talks about and how successful have their attempts been? How close are we to create life in the laboratory?

Enai

I read on telepolis that scientists have synthesized the polio virus from scratch in the chem lab. Its RNA was marked in certain places to distinguish it from the natural polio virus. The synthetic virus does infect mice (and kill them), but it's slightly less virulent and less deadly than the natural virus. Before you run to that site and search for the article, be warned: It's a german webzine, and the article appeared several months ago. They only have one article in english per day and usually it's about a political topic. I also am not entirely sure that it was the polio virus because I read about it so long ago.

I think it's awesome. I wonder when the first primitive bacteria will be synthesized?

Enai

RBH

MyKell askedTry these:

1. A (limited) bibiography.

2. Here's a fairly recent review of research in artificial chemistry.

There's doubtless more. Try Googling.

RBH

Boro Nut

People in the UK have been sacked for trying this.

Boro Nut

Boro Nut

I even think they were married.

ExanimusDeus

LOL that was worthy of a coke spit on the keyboard thank you very much! :notworthy