Comments on: Away In a Test Tube

By: Quilly Mammoth

Quilly Mammoth — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:10:13 +0000

Bob,
Right theorist but wrong example. The Taleb Distribution makes more sense then the Black Swan Theory. Kitchen sink genengineering has an exceedingly high probability of nothing good, that is valuable, coming from it however it has a small probability of extraordinary loss.

So in actuality the value of the research is less then zero since the gains cannot possibly exceed the potential for loss.

By: Bob Sykes

Bob Sykes — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:58:37 +0000

When this tech starting showing up in the bio labs a decade or so ago, it was immediately obvious that it was kitchen sink level and accessible to anyone. Some of the chemicals are seriously toxic, but that is not a problem to people with some chemistry and microbiology experience. Bomb makers have bigger problems. Whether someone can resynthesise smallpox or the 1918 flu remains to be seen. More likely, a new pathogen will be created, but the odds are against it being anything more serious than the common cold. Of course, there are “Black Swans.”

By: locomotivebreath (mutant) 1901

locomotivebreath (mutant) 1901 — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 02:04:40 +0000

Away In a Test Tube…

BCB has a disturbing story of amateur scientists in their garage with homemade lab equipment and Google trying to create new life forms through genetic engineering.
…

By: Anthony (Los Angeles)

Anthony (Los Angeles) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 01:16:46 +0000

Even if we were able to control this in the civilized parts of the world, there are too many places “beyond the pale” where this kind of modern-day Frankensteinism could go on and then wreak havoc.

By: Quilly Mammoth

Quilly Mammoth — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:30:41 +0000

Now we can have new beginnings for “I Am Legend” “Earth Abides” and “The Stand”.