Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!cs.utexas.edu!utastro!terry
From: terry@utastro.UUCP (Terry Hancock)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Creating life
Keywords: Life
Message-ID: <4516@utastro.UUCP>
Date: 31 Oct 89 02:20:34 GMT
References: <2461@umbc3.UMBC.EDU>
Reply-To: terry@astro.UUCP (Terry Hancock)
Distribution: usa
Organization: UT AUSTIN Astronomy Department/McDonald Observatory
Lines: 40

In article <2461@umbc3.UMBC.EDU> cs225202@umbc5.umbc.edu.UUCP (Sang J. Moon) writes:
>Just a thought... I know that the basic building blocks of DNA can be now
>created from inorganic molecules, but can biologists use these building blocks
>to create viable DNA which will cbecome an actual organism?
>
	No, as I understand it, there are some problems:

	1. We don't yet have the ability to construct arbitrary 
	sequences of DNA.  We are limited to a) simple code 
	sequences (such as all one type, or sets of three, or
	something) or b) copying codes that are found 
	naturally.
		I would be VERY interested in info refuting
	this statement, if such exists.

	2. Even if we COULD do 1., we don't know enough about
	molecular biology to make a plan for a viable organism
	(unless we copy extensively from an existing one).  There
	is much study left to be done.

	Caveat -- I am NOT a biologist, I am an astronomer, I get these
silly ideas from my fiancee, who doesn't get the net.  I'll have to
ask her about any technical questions.

**********************************
Terry Hancock
terry@astro.as.utexas.edu
**********************************










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>            "Those who yell the loudest, say the least."