From reading the genetic code to writing the genetic code; Genomic Alchemy, BioDesign and Synthetic Life; so what's after the petrochemical industry? 08-093
From one of my favourite TED talks from 2006; Genomics pioneer Craig Venter takes a break from his epic round-the-world expedition to talk about the millions of genes his team has discovered so far, in their quest to map the ocean's hidden biodiversity. (Quite a task, when you consider that there are tens of millions of microbes in a single drop of sea water.) He updates the audience on his discoveries, from the 2,000 photoreceptor genes found in the Sargasso Sea to the thrill of being under house arrest in French waters. After touching on the potential of environmental genomics to monitor the safety of air, water and offshore drilling, Venter ends with his vision for engineered species that can replace the petrochemical industry by creating clean energy (see video clip below).
....and Feb 2008...Can we create new life out of our digital universe?" asks Craig Venter. And his answer is, yes, and pretty soon. He walks the TED2008 audience through his latest research into "fourth-generation fuels" -- biologically created fuels with CO2 as their feedstock. His talk covers the details of creating brand-new chromosomes using digital technology, the reasons why we would want to do this, and the bioethics of synthetic life. A fascinating Q&A with TED's Chris Anderson follows; best part --Craig Venter talks about how fragmented bacterial or viral life can exist in outer space (shattered by radiation) and self-organize in a new aqueous environment. (see Video clip below) Talks Craig Venter: On the verge of creating synthetic life:
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