THE FUTURE IS NOW MAKE YOUR TIME.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Well, one of the issues with DNA based nanobots is that they will evolve. They are going to have differential survival based on the selections at hand, and if they find a better stable strategy, they are going to take it. Think "Andromeda Strain". Or Ian Malcom in Jurassic Park.

I'm kind of banking on this.  I have no faith in the Mayans, so I'm sort of relying on irresponsible scientists turning every organic thing on the planet into grey goo with the consistency of baby shit.

[hirley0]

12CIB DEFAULT DISCLAIMER
11 MEN / Monday eight o'clock report 20:40:20 - BoardSec'$
          Today at 07:01:25 AM
Reply #7: Today at 08:09:21 AM 1H8M-4S = 4076000 Ms
Reply #8: Today at 08:46:11 AM  ?/?
Reply #9: Today at 08:50:03 AM (50-9{M)-1) 2400S + 60-21+3{S) = 2442000Ms
Reply #17: Today at 01:43:30 PM
Reply #18: Today at 01:48:55 PM 5M25s {Fairly Funny {{4 Me:
03:24:04-02:20:24 {{{ two twos to U2 TooTs  | about an hour? does Ms matter
03:26 |-| About Two Min 46s ? Shirley Tp ||| 5:39:53 - 5:35:38 (4:15}
_
My version of these AMvPM Lyrics R as FoLLows:
I have two intel chiped  computers | Both have 2 hard Drives C: & D:
This one runs XP on D: & 98 on C: | Currently in XP mode | on Drive D
_
The Other Computer | I call it "BATH" because it stays in the BathRoom
really I have no Bath { cant afford 1 | So Call it a shower if you prefer truth
On Occasion I can Boot 98 {to run matlab on Bath C: & then swich over to DOS on
D to collect Data | thus the Solar Actvity (if there were any}? gets collected
on D. about a Floppy {1.44Mb)/24HrDay | say 10 Meg/wk | i used to ever week
turn off DOS and switch over to C:98 /Matlab to plot the data as a graph ~
-
However Since the First of the Year (2012} (Believe whatever You Like) The BATH
refuses to Boot 98. Not only does Intel refuse to go to 98 ON C But it won't
even ALLow 98 to be reloaded onto C to see if data from the sun can be graphed
:
Anyway its Just inforced stupidity at the BATH ROOM LeveL so I now say:
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/simpletime.html My Xp clock WAS 17 seconds fast
so? i reset it | yes it does gain time | No i have no plan to fix this. | maybe U

[Telarus]

Very cool! I appreciate how you description of the various generations of tech made me go from "Whoa, cool future tech" to "WHOA!!!!! BADASS COOL FUTURE TECH!"

It's good to see we occasionally get the COOL kind of the future, instead of just the EEEEEEEEEEeeee part of it.

Yeah, this.

[Kai]

Very cool! I appreciate how you description of the various generations of tech made me go from "Whoa, cool future tech" to "WHOA!!!!! BADASS COOL FUTURE TECH!"

Seriously. PCR is cool enough on it's own. The fact that we, with a protein stolen from hot springs bacteria, can double DNA fragments by putting a nucleic acid soup through a series of water baths of alternating temperature, that is freaking amazing.

[Rococo Modem Basilisk]

Kai, is your brain available for technical advice for fiction?

Yes, but a disclaimer: I have research skills, a heavy background in biology, and a general interest in science, but I am not an expert at engineering, physics or mathematics. My background is generously in aquatic biology, taxonomy, and entomology, with a dollup of behavior and ecology.

DNA modeled nanobots too far outside your scope for comfort?

What exactly do you want to know? I mean, Craig Venter and his crew has been creating synthetic organisms, so a virus-like DNA carrier which can perform a simple task isn't so complicated. The issue is that virii can't do anything themselves, they need a host. Bacteria, on the other hand, can self replicate and perform tasks. People are working on synthetic organisms that will digest various materials, or produce various materials, for example.

Maybe they'll come up with one that eats plastic and produces something interesting.

I honestly am at a loss for anything I would like bacteria to make. Whenever I think "petrol" or "biofuel" I feel like a douche. I'm sick of burning carbon chains to get around.

What about an anti-autoimmune-virus-virus? Or some other synthetic mechanism that specifically targets known autoimmune viruses? (virii?)

[Kai]

Kai, is your brain available for technical advice for fiction?

Yes, but a disclaimer: I have research skills, a heavy background in biology, and a general interest in science, but I am not an expert at engineering, physics or mathematics. My background is generously in aquatic biology, taxonomy, and entomology, with a dollup of behavior and ecology.

DNA modeled nanobots too far outside your scope for comfort?

What exactly do you want to know? I mean, Craig Venter and his crew has been creating synthetic organisms, so a virus-like DNA carrier which can perform a simple task isn't so complicated. The issue is that virii can't do anything themselves, they need a host. Bacteria, on the other hand, can self replicate and perform tasks. People are working on synthetic organisms that will digest various materials, or produce various materials, for example.

Maybe they'll come up with one that eats plastic and produces something interesting.

I honestly am at a loss for anything I would like bacteria to make. Whenever I think "petrol" or "biofuel" I feel like a douche. I'm sick of burning carbon chains to get around.

What about an anti-autoimmune-virus-virus? Or some other synthetic mechanism that specifically targets known autoimmune viruses? (virii?)

Viruses is correct. You mean, synthetic anti-viral bacteria that can fight HIV? That would be awesome.

[Rococo Modem Basilisk]

It seems like an appropriate use for them. I'm not sure if it's in the realm of trivial yet, though, or anywhere close.

Plus, if we screw it up we just added to the quickly growing field of biological weapons research and development.