What is Synthetic Biology?

What is life? What separates your molecules from ordinary matter? We all know that it takes DNA for an organism to live, grow, and reproduce, but what happens if we build entire DNA molecules in the lab? Is this also life?

- SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel and "ring the bell" for all the latest videos from WSF

Video produced by Vin Liota
Narrated by Robert Krulwich

[fieldandstream]

If we can do synthetic biology, then couldn't we have been created by an advanced species? History often repeats itself.

[moeguy]

"If everything goes according to plan..." Famous last words???

[robertdem]

I’m studying biochem and thinking of specializing in synthetic biology, it’s sound really interesting and like scary !

[KuraSourTakanHour]

The moment we became aware of the molecular codes of life, evolution began moving from the genetic imperative to the conscious imperative.
The hand born from DNA bent back on itself and wrote over it's own source code. This was an inevitability

[muskyelondragon]

The possibilities are exciting and frightening. Maybe this an explanation of Fermi's paradox. More smarts than wisdom.

[quietackshon]

Blade Runner replicants, maybe. Replacement organs, a goal worth achieving. How about a bacteria that eats plastic and makes oil to make plastics?
_If you believe in a God or Gods, then you have to concede that he/they gave us the ability to play God._

[wasiswillbe]

If you have to ask, what is life? Or if you think you have to dissect or examine the interior of an organism to understand life, or if you think the answer or "solution" is to be discovered in a laboratory, You should consider giving up your dream of being head of, or working in, any international, federal, state or local governmental or nongovernmental department.

[taschke]

I know Elon Musk and Stephen Hawkings disagree, but I want to take it all the way. Self-replicating, self improving, synthetic lifeforms with the capacity to carry the human consciousness to the stars.

[pernus]

Fantastic and marvelous knowledge. The elite would do well to not hoard it for themselves.

[origamicrane]

Will synthetic biology be able to cure mental illnesses in people who already have them?

[charlesbrightman]

I guess it's a good thing that all of life is ultimately meaningless in the grand scheme of things, regardless whatever we do and/or don't do. (Or at least so it currently appears).

At least one truly eternally consciously existent entity would have to actually eternally exist for anything to even potentially matter throughout all of future eternity, and then of course it would still have to matter to that entity throughout it's actual eternal conscious existence. While I fully acknowledge "possible", there is currently no actual evidence that either of those things are really true at this time.

1. We are all going to die one day from something.
2. We are all going to forget everything we ever knew and experienced.
3. We are all going to be forgotten one day in future eternity.
(Or so it all currently appears).

BUT, how exactly do we, individually and as a society of individuals, want to exist while we do exist? You and I both know that some mad scientist somewhere is doing what we wouldn't want done. (HA, HA, HA, ALIVE. Now I can conquer this world and this universe with my army of creations. With my army nothing can stop me, not even Darleks.). Choices in life, with all the consequences and ramifications, seen and unseen, of all those collective choices. Then we all die one day anyway. Then what for the rest of eternity? What and/or who is it all eternally for?

[MarysiaKosowski]

"How far should we--or will we--go?" Far enough to create an alien planet full of amazing new critters, but not far enough to destroy all of our naturally evolved species. Maybe they can function as natural garbage disposal. Bring on the plastic-devouring glow-in-the-dark Pokemon! :D

[myvibe]

To Challenge The Physics of God’s Creation. The only answer is a Pandora’s Box Fail.

[cswat]

:( ill probably be dead before they start making synthetic life and i really want to be there

[danielcarrasco]

Ginkgo Bioworks the world leader in Synthetic Biology

[paesanellis]

This sounds like Dr. Richard Wolff voice narrator.

[rayrocher]

Save the world, try for good in world

[chelee]

It's not a mystery. It's called creation created by a Creator called God. His name is Jesus Christ who died for us. Repent and ask Jesus for forgiveness of SINS.

[RahulSharma-senq]

our curiosity will lead to our own end. We are trying to change the DNA code and has no good reasons for that.I hope we start exploring meaningful areas

[mildredbradway]

Headed towards Transhumanism half robot half human. MicroChip hooks you up to AI