Scientists Struggle to Define Life

[GAHere]

From AOL.com:

By SETH BORENSTEIN,AP
Posted: 2007-08-19 19:53:57
Filed Under: Science News

WASHINGTON (Aug. 19) - Philosophers wrestling with the big questions of life are no longer alone. Now scientists are struggling to define life as they manipulate it, look for it on other planets, and even create it in test tubes.

In June, researchers replaced the genetic identity of one bacterium with that of a second microbe. Other scientists are trying to build life from scratch. [NASA](javascript: scientists are searching for life in space but aren’t sure what it will look like. And some futurists are pondering the prospect of robots becoming so human they might be considered a form of life.

So as scientists push the bounds of biology, astronomy and robotics, a big question looms: What exactly is life?

That question is bubbling up from recent advances in lab work.

Article continues here

But get this closing sentence:
** “Playing God is a good thing to do as long as you’re doing it responsibly,” he said.

**All I know is this article scares and depresses me.

 

[Bruno_esqueXXII]

I saw this article too on another site and my thought was that if even these scientists can’t even definitely *define *life, how can abortion supporters be so cavalier about saying that an embryo is not “a life” and that killing one is not murder? Some of the definitions quoted by these scientists would very much make an embyro qualify as life, even by their own definition.

I think “seculars” conveniently like to say that some bacteria is life when they are talking about creating it in a lab but when it comes to killing a baby they suddenly change their tune and say it is not a life.

 

[catechumen08]

But get this closing sentence:
** “Playing God is a good thing to do as long as you’re doing it responsibly,” he said.**

Wow, that’s such an irresponsible thing to say!

 

[jman507]

The article had nothing to do with scientist trying to define life.

 

[jdnation]

http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/images/create_life1.jpg

answersingenesis.org/articles/2007/08/20/origin-of-hype

 

[Wolseley]

Now scientists are struggling to define life…even create it in test tubes…Other scientists are trying to build life from scratch.

What a laugh. They can’t create life, any more than I can by snapping my fingers. All they can do is manipulate the already existing life that’s already here.

Reminds of the joke about the duel between God and the genetic scientist when God tells him, “Hold it, buster—you go get your own dirt!”

As for genetic engineering and the chimeras it’s certain to create…well, the man in Jurassic Park said it best: "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should."