Delicious LiveJournal Links for 5-21-2010

[andrewducker]

• Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell.
  (tags: dna life technology science genetics usa)
• Help fund a project to track sexual harassment
  (tags: feminism sexism web2.0)
• Possibly the finest sand castly in the history of mankind
  (tags: architecture)
• Unruly pupils need more support
  (tags: learning school development society)
• Headline of the day - Hot pursuit ninjas save Australia mugging victim
  (tags: ninjas awesome australia)

Comments

[robhu.livejournal.com]

http://itila.blogspot.com/2010/05/artificial-shakespeare-breakthrough.html

[andrewducker]

Hah! Genius!

Obviously, this isn't the same as designing a new organism from scratch, but if we think of it as giving us the ability to cerate cells arbitrarily, which we didn't have before, then it's still a massive breakthrough.

[ami-bender.livejournal.com]

Hmm. They synthesized an artificial genome and put that into an existing bacterium that had its DNA removed. Not sure if that classifies as artificial life. Probably a step closer.

Although probably also a step closer to all sorts of nasty bio weapons as well.