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The actual article title is "Easy DNA Editing" but i can not stop thinking of it like the creation of unstoppable biological weapons of mass destruction. DNA e
by callesgg 11y ago
The actual article title is "Easy DNA Editing" but i can not stop thinking of it like the creation of unstoppable biological weapons of mass destruction.
DNA editing and writing is powerful extremely powerful.
I wish there was some kind of way of controlling it. But it is probably impossible.
With great power comes great responsibility.
I mean nuclear weapons are like jokes compared to beaning able to write DNA like we write computer code today.
- biomcgary 11y agoEasy DNA Editing != Easy Lifeform Manipulation Editing DNA is like having the power to tweak the binary code of an Ubuntu installation. Hopefully, you will not accidentally edit the kernel (e.g., DNA replication and the ribosome). More importantly, the early days of DNA editing will be like tweaking your favorite application just by changing the binary. Sure, tiny tweaks are possible now, but creating genuinely new functionality that integrates well with the your existing "apps", e.g., height, will be rather difficult. Biological systems have a lot of non-linearity and many feedback loops to contend with. DNA editing and human life manipulation will happen in time, but imagine writing code that takes 10-50 years to compile. Iterating and pivoting will be challenging. But, we'll have some really advanced flies since they only take 10 days to compile (I mean, reproduce).
- asanagi 11y agoThe real revolution comes when gene splicing technology becomes so ubiquitous that complex organic molecules (i.e. pharmaceuticals legal or otherwise) can be produced in anybody's cupboard using plain old S. cerevisiae. No, they won't be able to stop it. Yes, there will be social upheaval.