Man in Berlin cured of HIV

[Soup Clock]

This is neato.  I'm too afraid to take tests for any terminal illnesses, so knowing there is a possible cure for one of them brings some relief.

[buttplug]

Well they are trying to develop a DNA synthesizer, which basically would artificially create new life forms. That could create some pretty shitty things if in the wrong hands.

A DNA synthesizer is bascially a machine that 'prints' life

I think we are far off from being able to create custom sentient life forms, and current scientific ethical standards would definitely prevent them from doing something like that anyway. For example, I don't see them making 'clones' of people just to harvest organs, when it is more efficient to create just the organ that is needed.

But if by dangerous new lifeforms you mean someone creating deadly diseases, they already do that anyway.

The only 2 things I can think if that would be dangerous like this is if someone accidentally created a disease or small life form that would wreck havoc on a particular ecosystem, though both of these are very very unlikely, especially in a controlled lab.

[Marlin Clock]

Well they are trying to develop a DNA synthesizer, which basically would artificially create new life forms. That could create some pretty shitty things if in the wrong hands.

A DNA synthesizer is bascially a machine that 'prints' life

That... makes no sense. You can't just print out DNA and go "BAM" now there's life.

[buttplug]

That... makes no sense. You can't just print out DNA and go "BAM" now there's life.

I skimmed this article, figuring it was what he was talking about
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_synthesis
I don't really understand it but I can't see us creating anything catastrophic with it.

I don't know what it has to do with stem cell research though.

[BluezombieClock]

It was from a science magasine I read a while back, I know that their principal goal with said machine was to bring it to Mars and try to ''rebirth'' the martian bacteria over there.

They're nowhere near finishing the machine, as I believe I've read they wanted to go there with it around 2030.

I'll see if the magasine is still at my corner store and if yes I'll type up the article for you guys (if interested at all).

[BluezombieClock]

was it in zeitgeist weekly

Actually a popular maxim-style magazine, you know. Girls, science facts, gadgets and whatnot.

I work in a corner store (Couche tard or macs depending where you live if you even have any), and i have too much spare time to read too many magazines.