Science-Technology
See other Science-Technology Articles
Title: Scientists Take First Step Towards Creating 'Inorganic Life'
Source:
Science Daily
URL Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110915091625.htm
Published: Sep 15, 2011
Author: Science Daily
Post Date: 2011-09-15 14:09:36 by jwpegler
Keywords: None
Views: 6733
Comments: 10
Scientists at the University of Glasgow say they have taken their first tentative steps towards creating 'life' from inorganic chemicals potentially defining the new area of 'inorganic biology'.
Professor Lee Cronin, Gardiner Chair of Chemistry in the College of Science and Engineering, and his team have demonstrated a new way of making inorganic- chemical-cells or iCHELLs.
Prof Cronin said: "All life on earth is based on organic biology (i.e. carbon in the form of amino acids, nucleotides, and sugars, etc.) but the inorganic world is considered to be inanimate.
"What we are trying do is create self-replicating, evolving inorganic cells that would essentially be alive. You could call it inorganic biology."
The cells can be compartmentalised by creating internal membranes that control the passage of materials and energy through them, meaning several chemical processes can be isolated within the same cell -- just like biological cells. The researchers say the cells, which can also store electricity, could potentially be used in all sorts of applications in medicine, as sensors or to confine chemical reactions.
The research is part of a project by Prof Cronin to demonstrate that inorganic chemical compounds are capable of self-replicating and evolving -- just as organic, biological carbon-based cells do.
The research into creating 'inorganic life' is in its earliest stages, but Prof Cronin believes it is entirely feasible.
Prof Cronin said: "The grand aim is to construct complex chemical cells with life-like properties that could help us understand how life emerged and also to use this approach to define a new technology based upon evolution in the material world -- a kind of inorganic living technology.
"Bacteria are essentially single-cell micro-organisms made from organic chemicals, so why can't we make micro-organisms from inorganic chemicals and allow them to evolve?
"If successful this would give us some incredible insights into evolution and show that it's not just a biological process. It would also mean that we would have proven that non carbon-based life could exist and totally redefine our ideas of design."
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
a promotion of "intelligent design"?
Obama has played at being a president while enjoying the perks … golf, insanely expensive vacations at tax-payer expense. He has ignored the responsibilities of the job; no plans, no budgets, no alternatives … just finger pointing; making him a complete failure as a president
#2. To: no gnu taxes (#1)
a promotion of "intelligent design"?
No. Republicans don't get science.
With the economy still in the dumper -- maybe permanently? -- and full-time jobs becoming as scarce as rain during a drought, huge percentages of Americans have had their (misplaced) faith in the American dream shaken, the upper-middle-class consumerist lifestyle is exposed as a mirage for anybody who plays by the rules. Capitalism and the America that embraced it as a way of life is now and forever more a failure. It does me good to know that the generation that voted in Reagan and his ideology will see their America die from that ideology before their very own eyes and knowing they had a hand in its destruction.
#3. To: Godwinson (#2)
An intelligent being is creating life (supposedly). If this would not be intelligent design, then what would it be?
Obama has played at being a president while enjoying the perks … golf, insanely expensive vacations at tax-payer expense. He has ignored the responsibilities of the job; no plans, no budgets, no alternatives … just finger pointing; making him a complete failure as a president
#4. To: no gnu taxes (#3)
The artificial cells described in this article are like robots using the cellular model for functioning. A man made automobile is not proof God created horses for example.
With the economy still in the dumper -- maybe permanently? -- and full-time jobs becoming as scarce as rain during a drought, huge percentages of Americans have had their (misplaced) faith in the American dream shaken, the upper-middle-class consumerist lifestyle is exposed as a mirage for anybody who plays by the rules. Capitalism and the America that embraced it as a way of life is now and forever more a failure. It does me good to know that the generation that voted in Reagan and his ideology will see their America die from that ideology before their very own eyes and knowing they had a hand in its destruction.
#5. To: Godwinson (#4)
The artificial cells described in this article are like robots using the cellular model for functioning.
intelligent design
A man made automobile is not proof God created horses for example.
A completely incongruent analogy
Obama has played at being a president while enjoying the perks … golf, insanely expensive vacations at tax-payer expense. He has ignored the responsibilities of the job; no plans, no budgets, no alternatives … just finger pointing; making him a complete failure as a president
#6. To: no gnu taxes (#5) (Edited)
The artificial cells described in this article are like robots using the cellular model for functioning.intelligent design
Yes, the artificial cells will be designed by intelligent men and they bear no resemblance to biological cells. Republicans hate science as much as the Taliban do.
With the economy still in the dumper -- maybe permanently? -- and full-time jobs becoming as scarce as rain during a drought, huge percentages of Americans have had their (misplaced) faith in the American dream shaken, the upper-middle-class consumerist lifestyle is exposed as a mirage for anybody who plays by the rules. Capitalism and the America that embraced it as a way of life is now and forever more a failure. It does me good to know that the generation that voted in Reagan and his ideology will see their America die from that ideology before their very own eyes and knowing they had a hand in its destruction.
#7. To: Godwinson (#6)
Yes, the artificial cells will be designed by intelligent men and they bear no resemblance to biological cells. Republicans hate science as much as the Taliban do.
Two more pointless statements.
I will say this -- you are definitely not the result of any kind intelligent design.
Obama has played at being a president while enjoying the perks … golf, insanely expensive vacations at tax-payer expense. He has ignored the responsibilities of the job; no plans, no budgets, no alternatives … just finger pointing; making him a complete failure as a president
#8. To: no gnu taxes (#7)
Two more pointless statements.I will say this -- you are definitely not the result of any kind intelligent design.
ignorant life
Intelligent design ...
natural selection ---
survival of the fittest !
If you ... don't use exclamation points --- you should't be typeing ! Commas - semicolons are for girlie boys !
#9. To: Godwinson (#4)
They are not robots, bozo. Robots are not a form of inorganic life.
Oh, God, can you ever imagine what would happen to the country if Lyndon Johnson were president? -- Jackie Kennedy
#10. To: jwpegler (#9)
They are not robots, bozo. Robots are not a form of inorganic life.
They are not inorganic "life". They are planned to be created as self replicating nanobots. Sorry you don't get the science.
With the economy still in the dumper -- maybe permanently? -- and full-time jobs becoming as scarce as rain during a drought, huge percentages of Americans have had their (misplaced) faith in the American dream shaken, the upper-middle-class consumerist lifestyle is exposed as a mirage for anybody who plays by the rules. Capitalism and the America that embraced it as a way of life is now and forever more a failure. It does me good to know that the generation that voted in Reagan and his ideology will see their America die from that ideology before their very own eyes and knowing they had a hand in its destruction.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]