Unprecedented risk to life on earth

[BoSoxGal]

This is an unsettling piece I felt I should share with y’all so you can worry, too.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/202 ... e-research

[ex-khobar Andy]

I read the Science piece but not the underlying article which goes into far more detail.

Organic molecules are typically left or right handed. If you look at your hands, they are symmetrical - they do the same thing and they look the same, but if you had a plaster model of one without the attached arm, you would know instantly whether it was your right or or your left arm. Same goes for all those symmetrical bits and pieces we all have - ears, kidneys, femurs etc. All organic molecules which contain a carbon atom with four different attached groups have chirality - the property of have two distinct forms which are chemically the same thing but physically different.

For reasons which are mysterious, molecules which are used to build life on earth are either the right hand (usually designated D- for the Latin 'dexter' which means 'right side') or left hand (L-; 'laevus' = left) sort and not the opposite. Some think it's random from the most ancient life form which picked it up and ever since it has been the default method of choice; some think it's from hydrogen peroxide which has a sort of chirality and may have been involved in the very earliest life forms.

These 'mirror' bacteria are beyond today's technology to make but with the rate of progress in molecular biology, we might be only ten years away from having that ability. Molecular biology processes which cost millions and took years a couple of decades ago can now be done for 50 bucks and time for a beer. And of course because there is an obvious military use (i.e., it can kill lots of people) to this technology even the best of actors (and let's assume for now that the US is one) will have to study it for defensive reasons.

We're fucked.

[Big RR]

It certainly bears watching, as many of our immune response could be compromised if the proteins were changed in three dimensional shape, not to mention that many of our protective enzymes might not work with them either. Then again, there is no evidence that a mirror image of a pathogenic microorganism woudl continue to be pathogenic (or, for that matter, that a harmless one would continue to be harmless) so the scientific community should take this seriously and discuss how to best proceed. A lot could be gained from this research, but it should be closely watched to avoid the potential serious problems.

[Burning Petard]

""A lot could be gained from this research, but it should be closely watched to avoid the potential serious problems"

And we know how this has ALWAYS worked out. Artificial Intelligence is the lastest example that comes to my mind. While all good citizens are urged to reduce their energy consumption for the good of the planet, the AI people are busy expanding electrical generation to the point that Microsoft (Where is the Charitable Bill Gates when we need him? ) is firmly engaged in renovating the atomic power plant on Three Mile Island, PA. AI seems to be a bigger consumer of electricity than even bitcoin 'mining'.

snailgate.

[Big RR]

True, but let's not forget all the "sky is falling" cries with any new technology, let along the end of the world predictions. I recall how all the molecular biology research was predicted to unleash microorganisms which could spell the end of humanity, or when the killer bees were coming to end us all... I am not trying to downplay the risks, they are real and the possibility of a real problem is not insignificant, but we have benefitted greatly from all the medications and advances that it brought.

I will defer on AI, but I'll bet there are many benefits to balance against the costs there as well.

But i do think we have to move forward; I can't see any other alternative that is viable.

[Big RR]

True, but let's not forget all the "sky is falling" cries with any new technology, let along the end of the world predictions. I recall how all the molecular biology research was predicted to unleash microorganisms which could spell the end of humanity, or when the killer bees were coming to end us all... I am not trying to downplay the risks, they are real and the possibility of a real problem is not insignificant, but we have benefitted greatly from all the medications and advances that it brought.

I will defer on AI, but I'll bet there are many benefits to balance against the costs there as well.

But i do think we have to move forward; I can't see any other alternative that is viable.