Some of us jokingly refer to our hobbies as “mad science,” but [Justin] from The Thought Emporium could be one Igor away from living up to the jibe. The latest project to come out of the YouTube channel, video also after the break, outlines a map for creating an artificial organism in their new lab. The purpose is to test how far a citizen scientist can push the boundary of bioengineering. The stated goal is to create a swimming entity with a skeleton. The Thought Emporium also has a neuron project in the works, hinting at a potential crossover.
The artifishal [sic] organism has themes at the micro and macro scale. [Justin] says, “Cells are like little nano-robots. Mainly in the sense that they just follow their built-in instructions to the best of their ability.” At the multi-cellular level, the goal is to program something to actuate muscle tissue rhythmically to sustain locomotion. The method for creating living parts is decellularization and recellularization, a technique we heard about at Hackaday Belgrade.
The Thought Emporium is improving upon its protocol which removes cells from their “scaffolding” to repopulate it with the desired type, muscle in this case. Cellular scaffolds retain the shape of whatever they were, so whatever grows on them determines what they become. Once the technique of turning a leaf into muscle fibers is mastered, the next step will be creating bones with a different cell line that will mineralize the scaffold. Optimizing the processes and combining the results may show the world what is possible with the dedication of citizen bioengineers.
Regenerative medicine is looking at replacement human-parts with similar techniques. We are eager to see fish that digest plastic.
Citizen scientists are unfortunately still underestimated. Especially by the scientific community. The biggest advantage that citizen scientists have is their independence.
It used to be that way until science was “incorporated” and designated as “the authority” around the turn of the [20th] century.
Playing God will lead us closer to Armageddon. Let’s hope these “scientists” know what they’re doing.
Unlike regular corporate regulated scientists creating the next cancerous compound to replace a cancerous compound that has been regulated but the company needs. heads and asses guy
No, setting up brother against brother is leading us closer to Armageddon.
sorry mate this is a no-russellite zone. you wouldn’t like it in here anyway, we’re just giving each other blood transfusions and speaking the true name of god.
what about millerites? we’re so Disappointed with the way things are going
Next: The first Open Source unicorn roams the woods!
(Maybe s/o should look into making an ‘Open Wetware’ repository).
At some point it becomes less about “what -can- we do?” and more about “what -should- we do”?
What can be done will be done.
The question one should be concerned about is:
“Who will do it first?”
The ocean will take care of the rest. ;-)
If what we’re doing helps the planet or the population then we should consider it. We shouldn’t let fear of an angry god hold us back.
Soylent Green: packed full of nutrients and carbohydrates.
It probably has what plants crave, too… (for marketing, of course)
Great,
According to some, we can help the planet by reducing the population to 500M. Also, according to the same sources, the remaining 500M would then be happy and own nothing.
All one needs to do is redefine “helps.”
Thanks Thanos
Is that Vegan or not?
i think the term is cruelty free meat.
I would argue it is, the whole point of being vegan is indeed no animal suffering.
The cells are just growing in a dish, no animals were harmed, so yeah vegan it is.
Till they start clicking.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/plant-stress-ultrasonic-click-noise-sound
It depends how convenient it is.
Batch chicken has been given the green light by the FDA. Think stainless steel vats like a brewery. Reported to taste like chicken, no it is chicken. Bawak bawak missing.
It’s all fun and games until the Triffid Uprising