3 ms·
> they drew up a list of genes known to be essential, assembled them in a yeast cell and then transferred that new genome into a closely related bacterial cell
by akomtu 3y ago
> they drew up a list of genes known to be essential, assembled them in a yeast cell and then transferred that new genome into a closely related bacterial cell that was emptied of its original DNA
> Afterward, Lennon asked him, “What happens when you let this organism loose?”
"we were so obsessed with what we can do, that it never occured to us if we should do it"
- K0balt 3y agoWhile a tiny genome device is less likely to be problematic than autoemergentt cells, it still seems like the opener for a black swan narrative lol. We are the species of FA/FO.
- kadoban 3y agoPeople are always terrified of these microbes that are millions or billions of years out of context. It's like being scared that a trout is going to beat you in a foot race, when you're racing tigers every day. The things to be scared of aren't those that haven't ever seen you before. It's the ones that have spent every second of every day, for hundreds/thousands/millions of years perfecting their ability to eat you that you should worry about.