Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs?

Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (Full Version)

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Sanity -> Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/26/2008 4:41:36 PM)
quote: Amateurs are trying genetic engineering at home SAN FRANCISCO – The Apple computer was invented in a garage. Same with the Google search engine. Now, tinkerers are working at home with the basic building blocks of life itself. Using homemade lab equipment and the wealth of scientific knowledge available online, these hobbyists are trying to create new life forms through genetic engineering — a field long dominated by Ph.D.s toiling in university and corporate laboratories. In her San Francisco dining room lab, for example, 31-year-old computer programmer Meredith L. Patterson is trying to develop genetically altered yogurt bacteria that will glow green to signal the presence of melamine, the chemical that turned Chinese-made baby formula and pet food deadly. "People can really work on projects for the good of humanity while learning about something they want to learn about in the process," she said. So far, no major gene-splicing discoveries have come out anybody's kitchen or garage. But critics of the movement worry that these amateurs could one day unleash an environmental or medical disaster. Defenders say the future Bill Gates of biotech could be developing a cure for cancer in the garage. (Full article here).

Raechard -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/26/2008 4:53:39 PM)
Not good is it.

Sanity -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/26/2008 4:58:33 PM)
I could see both good and bad coming from it, but I have to wonder if the potential good is worth all the risks. But it's kind of like manufacturing alcohol. How could it ever be banned outright? I ask that because it seems like it's fairly easy to put these experiments together.

Raechard -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/26/2008 5:13:43 PM)
If they are creating new life what standard of life is this new life getting? In a licensed company that is one of the things that is set out and strictly regulated. Like any crime you follow the trail and see where it leads. For the science you need the technology and this means that identifying who is buying what would give you a good idea as to who is up to what. The next breakthrough isn't going to be by one man in his basement, these corporations spend billions on research no single mind is going to compete with that. We've got to a certain point where progress in any area is hard due to the major leaps forward we have made recently. I'm a sceptic.

Aileen1968 -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/26/2008 5:19:08 PM)
Well this explains the whole other half of the family....

Aszhrae -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/26/2008 6:29:24 PM)
Oh goody. Let us all just be regulated to hell and back. If I remember correctly the research and development of insulin for diabetes was not done by a government regulated lab but privately. Remember what happened when the best minds were regulated by the Church, most of them were prosecuted as heretics, heathens and blasphemers. If the cure for cancer comes from someone dabbling in the kitchen, using mold and various other bacteria cultures, all the power to them if they can do it. Not like anyone has access to the E.boli virus in their fridge.

Lynnxz -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/26/2008 6:30:57 PM)
Meh, not sure if anyone will discover the cure to cancer, but it can't hurt to try. [:D]

awmslave -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/26/2008 8:20:57 PM)
I have nothing against the effort. To run these experiments successfully one needs substancial funds. Not bad idea if you have a few hundred thousand dollars and free time to spend.

piratecommander -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 3:59:52 AM)
Well spoken. What says the laboratory boffins are so special as to presume that their domain is a safe one ? (see Prof Henry Bedson 1978) Phew ... that was close ! And only 4 years later the US government was approving the shipping of ..... (various things) (hand in glove with Her "Brittanic" Majesty's ""government") Gimme some bacteria and call me a hereric any day of the week , next thing you know they'll be trying to tell me that unpasteurised (Louis Pasteur?) mouldy cheese is BAD for me (washed down with 31 or 45 year old Port makes the thought so disgusting to folks ... I'll just have to endure the hardship alone) I'll be awhile now , pondering who it was who discovered that aspirin is so useful ??????? Pirate

pahunkboy -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 5:29:35 AM)
Ild say it is a mixed bag. Maybe more good then bad. If anything will stop it - the force would be some corporation that owns the patent to any formula. You can almost throw in the new CODEX rules for a plus on this issue. Did you know when the FDA decided melamine was safe, that all labs in the US now wont test for it below a 1 part per million (something like it-high threshold) so if the system wont protect us, then we have to protect ourself. melamine has not gone away. the newspaper here had a piece in it over kidney stones in kids. no where in it did the med center mention melamine and the horrible state of foods, and the Weis, a large grocer chain is headquarterred here, ....part of the problem. I sent a scathing email to the med center. one should not have to be a chemist to grocery shop. ....so now that I sent that message - the shit will hit the fan and the grocers will get better with decent food. or not.

Lorr47 -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 6:36:30 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Aileen1968 Well this explains the whole other half of the family.... Now that is funny! It does explain my step mother who is five years younger than me.

MarsBonfire -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 6:57:52 AM)
"Gene hacking" has been around for at least 15 years, maybe more. You can often find genetic splicing equipment on ebay. It's really no more expensive, or time consuming a hobby that running a model Railroad, or getting seriously into computers. Experimenting with new forms of life "can't hurt?" Hummm... obviously this poster has never read the first few chapters of Steven King's "The Stand"... The religious nutcases are so friggin worred about experimentation stem cells... too bad they aren't thinking about what the irresponsible "mad scientist" is doing in his garage across town, tinkering with entirely new forms of cellular life, and viruses. If they did, maybe they'd realize how fucked up their priorities really are.

Lorr47 -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 7:17:09 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MarsBonfire "Gene hacking" has been around for at least 15 years, maybe more. You can often find genetic splicing equipment on ebay. It's really no more expensive, or time consuming a hobby that running a model Railroad, or getting seriously into computers. Experimenting with new forms of life "can't hurt?" Hummm... obviously this poster has never read the first few chapters of Steven King's "The Stand"... The religious nutcases are so friggin worred about experimentation stem cells... too bad they aren't thinking about what the irresponsible "mad scientist" is doing in his garage across town, tinkering with entirely new forms of cellular life, and viruses. If they did, maybe they'd realize how fucked up their priorities really are. I have never thought it possible to do this sort of thing other than in an expensive lab. If someone can do it in their garage, someone will. That is scary.

Sanity -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 7:20:38 AM)
I can't help but wonder how difficult might it be for some well-meaning environmentalists or animal rights activists to create something new that could, for example, wipe out the world's wheat or corn production and thereby starve half the people on Earth. Or to create a super cold or flu strain or some other threat capable of eliminating some percentage of our species outright...

Raechard -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 7:23:13 AM)
Well meaning? I have the same fears about the well meaning, profit seeking corporations. It's those with malicious intent we have to worry about: if we are happy letting people experiment this way how do we know what they are doing it for? Maybe someone is seeking a better treatment for anthrax or maybe they are just growing it in order to use it in a terrorist attack. Then there is the whole human cloning issue. We can’t trust people to have good intensions this kind of thing needs to be carefully regulated with an oversight committee. The morality of one person alone can never be trusted.

CatdeMedici -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 7:35:48 AM)
why is this so bad? Einstein could not put his sweaters on right side out, Edison found electricity in his home lab--the sugar cane process was developed by a free man of color---common people for ages have discovered uncommon things---we have become a generation of snobs---no degree equates to no brains-- no common sense equates to no capabilty- and discovery of certain evolved things MUST be reserved for the elite---well remember, the person who graduates last in medical school is still called Dr. I'd a lot rather people who have the drive, the balls and the smarts but are rejected-- work on something at home to promote things than nothing happen--oh and those who would say, "OMG they are the terrorists!"---C'mon honey, terrorists will appear in or out of labs-chances are faster in labs where they have all the tools, equipment and brains. IMHO

Raechard -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 7:41:06 AM)
Electricity isn't capable of killing thousands within two weeks if it goes wrong. Haven’t you seen "I am Legend." ask yourself do you really want flesh eating zombies walking about at night? Well do ya???[8\|]

Lorr47 -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 7:53:37 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: CatdeMedici why is this so bad? Einstein could not put his sweaters on right side out, Edison found electricity in his home lab--the sugar cane process was developed by a free man of color---common people for ages have discovered uncommon things---we have become a generation of snobs---no degree equates to no brains-- no common sense equates to no capabilty- and discovery of certain evolved things MUST be reserved for the elite---well remember, the person who graduates last in medical school is still called Dr. I'd a lot rather people who have the drive, the balls and the smarts but are rejected-- work on something at home to promote things than nothing happen--oh and those who would say, "OMG they are the terrorists!"---C'mon honey, terrorists will appear in or out of labs-chances are faster in labs where they have all the tools, equipment and brains. IMHO I do not feel that the idea of individuals doing work in the home is per se frightening, depending on the type of work. Many are suggesting that rather than giving loans to industry for "green technology" that the private entrepreneurs on the Internet first be fostered for new ideas. . They cite the initial garage development of computers, the Internet etc. They do not feel industry would have developed new technology without the garage entrepreneurs working on it first. However, this thread does make me pause. If such fundamental elements can be changed, how do we protect ourselves? The entry about creating an agent that destroys something like the corn crop is especially interesting not to mention DNA research in a garage. I certainly have no answers but have been awakened today as to the dangers. A great thread.

ArticMaestro -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 1:22:32 PM)
I suppose there is no real way to regulate or stop this type of experimantion, but what a disaster waiting to happen.

Sanity -> RE: Bathtub Genetic Engineering Labs? (12/27/2008 2:46:10 PM)
Right. Even if some countries enforced certain common sense regulations there will always be places where such experimentation would be welcomed, regardless of how dangerous its potential.

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