[lbo-talk] Guardian: Craig Venter creates synthetic life form

[123hop at comcast.net]

Time for everyone to reread Dr. Faustus. Marlowe's... 

J. 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chuck Grimes" <c123grimes at att.net> 
To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org 
Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 12:35:38 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Guardian: Craig Venter creates synthetic life form 

[About Craig Venter et al, creates first synethetic organism...] 

Wow. But I have the same old worry. This system of production isn't going to 
remain in the confines of a science lab. It's headed into industry. Once it 
gets ramped up, it will be put to use like every other system for profit, 
whatever the market decides is profitable---which means it will be beyond 
any concept of benefit or hazard, except what makes money. And guess who 
some of the corporate sponsors are? Some of our favorites, Exxon-Mobile, 
Norvartis... 

The other thing that bothers me about Venter is his ego, writ waay too 
large. They `signed' the DNA sequences with `water marks' that spell out the 
names of the research team. What kind of kinko shit is that? Why not 
Prometheus and other legendary figures? 

This stuff is just ripe for malignant thoughts. 

For people who prefer to read rather than watch video: 

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/0521/J.-Craig-Venter-Institute-creates-first-synthetic-life-form 

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