Chemists create ‘artificial chemical evolution’ for the first time

[Captain Obvious]

They can do this but they can't build a $#@!ing toaster that lasts longer than two years.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_382476_en.html

Scientists have taken an important step towards the possibility of creating synthetic life with the development of a form of artificial evolution in a simple chemistry set without DNA.

A team from the University of Glasgow’s School of Chemistry report in a new paper in the journal Nature Communications today (Monday 8 December) on how they have managed to create an evolving chemical system for the first time. The process uses a robotic ‘aid’ and could be used in the future to ‘evolve’ new chemicals capable of performing specific tasks.

The researchers used a specially-designed open source robot based upon a cheap 3D printer to create and monitor droplets of oil in water-filled Petri dishes in their lab. Each droplet was composed from a slightly different mixture of four chemical compounds.

[Crepitus]

Fascinating bit of research. Any creationists wanna chime in and tell us how it doesn't mean anything?

They could build you a toaster that would outlast the pyramids, but they want to sell you a new one every two years.

[sachem]

They can do this but they can't build a $#@!ing toaster that lasts longer than two years.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_382476_en.html

Chemists build toasters?

[Mr. Freeze]

This is not abiogenesis, it's chemical evolution. The word "evolution" is confusing to the discussion.

That said, I'm pleased with the direction of sciences today but I fear it will create a world where the wealthy will live forever and the rest of the world eke by as it is now.

[Captain Obvious]

Fascinating bit of research. Any creationists wanna chime in and tell us how it doesn't mean anything?

They could build you a toaster that would outlast the pyramids, but they want to sell you a new one every two years.

Exactly - the first hard learned lesson in sales/production, "never make a product that you can't sell back to them".

[Captain Obvious]

Chemists build toasters?

In this economy some probably are.

[Polecat]

Fascinating bit of research. Any creationists wanna chime in and tell us how it doesn't mean anything?

They could build you a toaster that would outlast the pyramids, but they want to sell you a new one every two years.

I can chime in. But I won't declare this is meaningless research. It has been the carrot on the string since the dawn of mankind to be god like. Eve was tempted with power and knowledge so she could be god like. The carrot still dangles and fools still chase after it.

[Crepitus]

This is not abiogenesis, it's chemical evolution. The word "evolution" is confusing to the discussion.

Baby steps.

That said, I'm pleased with the direction of sciences today but I fear it will create a world where the wealthy will live forever and the rest of the world eke by as it is now.

I've had the same thought occasionally. Look at how much better healthcare is for wealthy people already.

[Crepitus]

I can chime in. But I won't declare this is meaningless research. It has been the carrot on the string since the dawn of mankind to be god like. Eve was tempted with power and knowledge so she could be god like. The carrot still dangles and fools still chase after it.

I don't think most want to be godlike. I think it's more about understanding the how and why of the world.

[Mr. Freeze]

Baby steps.

When you have to use scientific calculations and controlled experiments to reproduce something that happened organically 4.5 billion years ago you're missing the point. Most scientists can reverse-engineer multiple approaches to a problem, but that doesn't mean that we can actually know how that happened.

4.5 billion years ago is a long $#@!ing time.

I've had the same thought occasionally. Look at how much better healthcare is for wealthy people already.

They can always get into stem cell studies when normal people always seem to be on the waiting list.