in the future, with ever more powerful computers and the means to manipulate matter at an atomic level giving them the tools to put together dna: would/could science create a new life form?
2006-09-13 19:34:32 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Yes, but how soon it will happen depends how different from natural organisms it has to be in order to count as a "new life form".
Until now, genetic engineering can only be used to make minor modifications of existing organisms. Long-time breeding programs, lasting hundreds of generations, can create rather exotic organisms like all kind of crazy-looking dogs, roses etc, but genetically they are not so different from nature. A male poodle would probably still be able to make a female wolf pregnant.
But we can make synthetic DNA, so in principle we could create the genome of a new species from scratch. Two obstacles still prevent us from making synthetic mars-men and such:
1: although we can make a synthetic genome, the rest of the cell must still be taken from an existing organism, which means that the new organism must have some kind of compatibility with an existing type of cell. For higher organisms, more is needed. A synthetic mammal, for example, would have to be carried by a surrogate mother of some natural species.
2: we don't know enough about the meaning of DNA in order to create an organism from scratch. Having invented the typewriter doesn't make you a great novelist.
2006-09-14 03:29:55 · answer #1 · answered by helene_thygesen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the flow of science shows thay will either make combinations of the existing species, which will need to be defined according to needs; ie. mars is a windy environment, there are huge dust storms.. if you inject some reptile dna to human, you will create a human species that will be more adaptive to such an environment, let's say he will have a harder skin and an extra eyelid to prevent dust from getting into his eyes.. etc etc..
or they will modify the dna of existing species to get different ones. if you call this a new life form, then yes..
to tell you the truth - even if man has the mens to do this, it will take much longer for him to actually do it.. Look at the root cell or cloning discussions..
you think there will still be a Church or Senate to make a judgement on these when science will be ready to do this?
and now besides the hat and the nick, i like your questions, too :)
2006-09-14 14:51:33 · answer #2 · answered by Arwen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well we can already use directed evolution and genetic manipulation to design things with new characteristics. If you mean will we ever create some totally new life form unlike anything before. It may well be possible in the future but it would probably be based upon exisiting life forms.
2006-09-14 07:32:29 · answer #3 · answered by Ellie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes anything is possible and this is quite likely to happen one day
It all depends on the degree of what you consider a new life form. Do you consider a bacteria genetically made to search for cancer cells a new life form or an entire new species that can replicate?
2006-09-14 02:38:22 · answer #4 · answered by RichUnclePennybags 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are talking a about a human type life form, then yes, considering that they have "grown" bladders and other organs in labs. However, due to politics it will take forever for the "technology" to be used in any helpful way. It would be the next stem cell debate.
2006-09-14 02:54:27 · answer #5 · answered by A charmed one 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It has already been done. Genetically modified corn, which kills insects that try to eat it, has been available for a number of years. As for contstructing a new life form entirely from scratch, that is still a ways off.
2006-09-14 02:50:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's already been done. Look at the 'designer' microbes that are used to clean up oil spills. Or any of several hundred kinds that are used to catalyze all manner of organic reactions.
Doug
2006-09-14 02:40:55 · answer #7 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They have already created a new life form. Eg: seedless watermelon. It's alive and it never existed before!
2006-09-14 03:11:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, they cant make the actual soul.
I suppose they can change the DNA to create the structure and functions of a body, but they cant get it alive, unless, they find a host, which would be too similar to cloning
2006-09-14 02:45:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
No Father made all things and mans feeble mind playing with DNA wont change this sorry
2006-09-14 02:43:16 · answer #10 · answered by jas3tm 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋