It seems that everyone in cyberspace has been bumping the news about Craig Venter’s announcement of an artificial cell. So I suppose - given my interest in such things - I should pitch in my two cents worth. It’ll be clear to anyone who’s read Broken Evolution where my concerns lie. But the details from Venter’s own press conference I found truly shocking within the first minute, beyond what I could possibly imagine. Why? The essence of it is this: they have created the first artificial self-proprogating lifeform that … wait for it … replicates its own website address in it’s gene sequence. That kind of speaks for itself, and doesn’t need me to elaborate much. It reminds me of the wacky scientist sketches from The Fast Show that usually ended with the scientist saying “we don’t know why we did this”. They did it because … they can. But is the recent announcement funny? No.
I’m not a luddite. I applaud the technical skill and the long effort to acheive this. They spent 2 years evaluating the risk. The benefits in curing diseases in future could be immense.
But what about ethics?
This is man’s first contribution to the chain of life.
An organism versed in self-promotion from birth. Ready-equipped for the commercial environment. A self-propagating advertisement. A meme made manifest.
What message does that send about what we will do with this ground-breaking new technology? As Mr. Venter cited in his announcement: “See things not as they are, but as they might be.” That cuts both ways. Look ahead … remember how excited Oppenheimer must have been when he started work in his exciting atomic technology … and tread with caution into the future.
… rephrase, in plain english, the following classic piece of Donald Rumsfeld obfuscation under press questioning:
“Reports that say that something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don’t know we don’t know.”
On the heels of my previous buoyant blog post came the sad news that Michael Crichton has died, at a mere 66 years of age. He was one of my influences; he pioneered the acceptability of science-fiction concepts in mainstream publishing and launched many other visionary projects. Very sad.
‘Scuse the dodgy pun, but the news headlines are so full of them today I feel entitled to let my own authorial standards slip a notch. And why not? It’s symptomatic of the relaxed relief that buoys the air today following the election of Barack Obama as American President. The interweb and bloggersphere is awash with euphoria and congratulations, so I might as well pitch in my oar.
And sure, I hear he’s Irish anyway
The big excitment stateside seems to stem from the fact that he is the first black President. To someone like me, from the other side of the pond, his colour or race was never an issue. But the outpouring from the African-American community last night reminds me how much of a big issue race is over in the States. When I heard the black vox-pop on the news saying things like “we’ve taken over the White House”, and “we’re running this show now,” it only proves how frighteningly close to the surface racial tensions simmer. I can understand why Obama distanced himself from using the black ticket in his campaign, choosing instead to colour his campaign in a more ameloriating and unifying mixed-race hue (oops, there goes the pun again).
But I am glad for the African-American community today. They have had a brutal history and deserve their day in the sun and the glory of a President who reflects their heritage. I wish them all the best that it brings.
For me, the joy and relief I feel is nothing to do with the colour of the man’s skin. Part of me didn’t really care whether Obama or McCain won. Either victor could have heralded a new era free from the reign of the awful George W. Bush/Dick Cheney. What pleases me about the result is that the Republicans have been ousted. Even if McCain had won it, I would have had this niggling fear that — despite his experience — the old Republication Bush machinery might still have been running somewhere, influencing the new inhabitant of 1600 Pennsyvania Avenue.
That the Republicans could have forwarded George W. Bush as a candidate in 2000 forever diminished them in my view. I was amazed, and disappointed, at the American people for voting him in, and there has always been a question mark over his legitimacy as President since that fateful day in Florida in 2000. What amazed and disappointed me even more and what I will never understand is why dubya was voted in for a second term. I’m sure fear played a big part in it, but I lost some esteem for American citizens that day in 2004 when they didn’t display the courage to kick that disasterous administration out of the White House. The financial catastrophe of the last few months mightn’t have been so bad for them, and for all of us, if they could have shown yesterday’s courage earlier, back in 2004.
The redemptive vote they took yesterday might just wipe out that mistake — although Obama will have his work cut out for him. (Thanks W.)
Let’s hope the Democrats, under Barack Obama, can re-build America and even re-invigorate the world. Hope is a wonderful thing.
I’ve always been fascinated by Japanese culture, perhaps because to a young Irish boy it seemed so alien and exotic and eccentric compared to our Western norms. I did a lot of research on Japan for the novel, and my head is still swimming in the invigorating pool of Japanese culture. I don’t think you can ever really fully understand a culture unless you’ve grown up in it. Outsiders just get privileged glimpses of understanding.
However, it was great fun. I think I’m turning Japanese.
To the casual observer I must appear as un-Japanese as possible — a tall Irish Caucasian lug! And yet I feel an affinity with Japan: maybe it’s my love of baths; maybe it’s my love of electronic gadgets; maybe it’s because the road where I grew up was lined with cherry blossoms (or sakura as we Japanese call it!) ; maybe it’s because of my fondness for meditative ways and unobstrusive, demure, polite people.
Or maybe it’s because Ireland is mooted to be following Japan into a prolonged 80’s-style property-induced economic crash!
I think we’re turning Japanese … I really think so.
