#1Dec 15th, 2011
Synthetic biology is 'out-accelerating evolution' - expert
Bio-crime today is 'like computer crime in the Eighties'
Viruses could be used to influence behaviour - and we
may have to 'learn how to counterattack'
'One of the most powerful technologies in the world'
By Rob Waugh
Last updated at 9:26 AM on 14th December 2011
The field of 'synthetic biology' is in its infancy.
We can 'tweak' the genetics of life forms - but billionaire
entrepreneur Craig Venter only created 'artificial life' for the
first time last year, christening his life form 'Synthia'.
But experts working within the field believe that our expertise
is out-accelerating natural evolution by a factor of millions
of years - and some warn that synthetic biology could spin out of control.
It could lead, says Andrew Hessel of Singularity University,
on Nasa's research campus, to a world where hackers could engineer
viruses or bacteria to control human minds.
Hessel believes that genetic engineering is the next frontier of computing.
'This is one of the most powerful technologies in the world,'
says Hessel 'Synthetic biology - the writing of life.'
'I advocate that cells are living computers and DNA is a
programming language.'
'I want to see life programmed and used to solve global challenges
so that humanity can achieve a sustainable relationship within
the biosphere,' he says.It's growing fast. It will grow faster than
computer technologies.'
He predicts a world where we can 'print' DNA, and even 'decode' it.
But he warned, in a speech at technology conference TXM,
that viruses and bacteria send chemicals into human brains – and
could be used to influence, or even 'control' their host.
A literal virus - injected into a 'host' in the guise of a vaccine,
say - could be used to control behaviour.
Hessel warns that we 'may have to learn how to counterattack'
against such weapons.
Security expert Marc Goodman said, 'Synthetic biology will lead
to new forms of bioterrorism,' and said, 'Bio-crime today is akin
to computer crime in the early Eighties, Few initially recognised
the problem - but it grew exponentially.'
When billionaire entrepreneur Craig Venter 'created life' last year
by adding synthetic DNA to a bacteria cell, Professor
Julian Savulescu, an Oxford University ethicist, said:
'Venter is creaking open the most profound door in humanity's
history, potentially peeking into its destiny.This could be used
in the future to make the most powerful bioweapons imaginable.
The challenge is to eat the fruit without the worm.'
Hessel, however, is generally optimistic about the future of synthetic
biology. The scientist - who had a vasectomy because he
'never trusted the process' of natural reproduction, says,
'We are going to make synthetic genomes - human genomes.
It will make cloning look organic. It will make human reproduction
look quaint.'
Computer World blogger Darlene Storm says, 'I know people who
can't even keep their computers protected, updated and patched –
I wonder if they would be more security minded when the
hacking could be lethal?'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2073936/Could-hackers-develop-virus-infect-human-mind.html
Comments (20)
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Isn't man fantastic, is their no end to man's creation and manipulation
of the universe. Has he succeeded in becoming like God,
in both creation of the universe from the humble beginnings
of eating the forbidden fruit to this, the ultimate pinnacle
of man's control over the cells, virus and programming of DNA,
isn't it just amazing, we have become like the gods.
- Man, World, 14/12/2011 20:26
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