"Yeast chromosome from scratch"

[Eastoff]

http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/27/5553044/first-functional-eukaryotic-chromosome

Eukaryotic chromosomes belong to eukaryotes — organisms such as animals, plants, and yeast whose cells contain a membrane-bound nucleus. Although scientists have previously been able to construct viral DNA and bacterial DNA, the synthesis of a eukaryotic chromosome had not been achieved. So, when the scientists decided to construct a chromosome from scratch, they knew they had to plan it out carefully. "We didn't make a carbon copy of an existing chromosome," says Jef Boeke, a molecular biologist at New York University and co-author of the study, "but an extensively modified version designed on a computer, using a set of principles that were predicted to make happy, healthy yeast."

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

...and we all LIKE happy, healthy yeast.

 

[Further]

Cool stuff. The eventual applications of being able to scramble all genes in yeast will be a massive achievement not only for science, but for manufacturing, environmentalism, healthcare and just about every field will be touched in some capacity. 20 years from now, this world is going to be drastically different, in no small part due to advancements like this.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Cool stuff. The eventual applications of being able to scramble all genes in yeast will be a massive achievement not only for science, but for manufacturing, environmentalism, healthcare and just about every field will be touched in some capacity. 20 years from now, this world is going to be drastically different, in no small part due to advancements like this.

But different in what way?

 

[Eastoff]

But different in what way?

You don't need to worry about that!

 

[Further]

But different in what way?

they will be able to design it for a whole bunch of uses, some may be for producing diesel or synthesizing medications, they may be used to eat plastics so they could be used to remove the huge garbage patches in the ocean, or be made to eat oil and used to clean up oil spills. Not just yeast, but the knowledge gained here will then be applicable to just about every other organism, like bacteria which might be more easily harnessed for certain tasks than yeast.

I understand the worry, that there could be unintended consequences, likely there will be some over the course of time, but the more we learn about yeast and their genes, the more likely we will be able to apply the science correctly and benefit the world.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

they will be able to design it for a whole bunch of uses, some may be for producing diesel or synthesizing medications, they may be used to eat plastics so they could be used to remove the huge garbage patches in the ocean, or be made to eat oil and used to clean up oil spills. Not just yeast, but the knowledge gained here will then be applicable to just about every other organism, like bacteria which might be more easily harnessed for certain tasks than yeast.

I understand the worry, that there could be unintended consequences, likely there will be some over the course of time, but the more we learn about yeast and their genes, the more likely we will be able to apply the science correctly and benefit the world.

There have always been things we didn't intend to have or know would happen. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge or those French jetliners that fell apart mid flight.

THIS type of stuff, who knows what is going to happen. What happens if something that eats plastic gets out of control?

I Am Legend was a good movie, probably something like that will end humanity if war doesn't.