Science is interesting

Syobon · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:34 am **Posts:** 15027

Exeres wrote:

First of all, the genetic difference between all life on the planet, from bacteria to human beings, is something like 6%.

94% of all the DNA on this planet is identical. So if you're going to start from scratch, it won't actually be from "scratch."

That doesn't sound right, the number of chromosomes alone can differ from anywhere between 2 and 1500 or something.

Stranaton · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 11:59 pm

Syobon wrote:

Exeres wrote:

First of all, the genetic difference between all life on the planet, from bacteria to human beings, is something like 6%.

94% of all the DNA on this planet is identical. So if you're going to start from scratch, it won't actually be from "scratch."

That doesn't sound right, the number of chromosomes alone can differ from anywhere between 2 and 1500 or something.

most chromosome types are similar in composition.

Blitz Walrus · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:00 am

But if you got DNA from something would you just shave off the bits unique to the critter or what?

Syobon · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:34 am **Posts:** 15027

I'm afraid I don't get your question? Do you want to make a unique critter from scratch? We can technically just build the molecule from oxygen, graphite, hydrogen and nitrogen, but that would be incredibly time-consuming.

Any actual genetic engineering currently is done starting with DNA from some organism and then modifying it, this is just hypothetical stuff.

Stranaton wrote:

most chromosome types are similar in composition.

Oh, didn't know that. Anyone got a source on this so I can learn some more? I tried looking myself but failed.

Stranaton · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:10 am

Syobon wrote:

I'm afraid I don't get your question? Do you want to make a unique critter from scratch? We can technically just build the molecule from oxygen, graphite, hydrogen and nitrogen, but that would be incredibly time-consuming.

Any actual genetic engineering currently is done starting with DNA from some organism and then modifying it, this is just hypothetical stuff.

Stranaton wrote:

most chromosome types are similar in composition.

Oh, didn't know that. Anyone got a source on this so I can learn some more? I tried looking myself but failed.

Too tired today, need sleep. I think there are 6 or so chemicals that make all dna, if memory serves. Brain tired.

Zang · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:11 am

Blitz Walrus wrote:

If you were to make an original critter where would the dna come from? would you just use a massive pool of dna or can you actually code genes from scratch?

Okay I'm just throwing it out there but I don't think it's really possible to make a completely unique creature. When I say "unique" I mean one that doesn't have features of any other animal.

I mean, go ahead, try to think up a creature that would be original.

Now that you've got it, break it down. Its going to have features of some other animal, I don't think it's possible to design something ENTIRELY original. I mean, at least not a creature.

Thdark · **Joined:** Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 338

Exeres wrote:

First of all, the genetic difference between all life on the planet, from bacteria to human beings, is something like 6%.

94% of all the DNA on this planet is identical. So if you're going to start from scratch, it won't actually be from "scratch."

That's not exactly true.
Humans and chimps share some 98% of our genes, a mouse shares around 92%, an insect like a fly 44%, and a plant 18%.

Madican · **Joined:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:18 pm **Posts:** 13531

owenster wrote:

Syobon wrote:

I'm guessing it's a similar procedure to corrective laser eye-surgery actually.

Which is pretty impossible to walk away from damaged. At least I haven't heard of anyone being seriously maimed by a fixed frequency laser.

Laser-eye surgery consists of cutting open a flap on the eye and shaving the cornea so it can focus light in a way that allows the person to see again. Then the flap has to be put back in place manually, no laser, and smoothed out so there are no bubbles. It has to be perfect, because one millimeter of error, some missed bubbles, or a slip of the hand equals blindness.

I've had LASIK surgery done. They told me the entire process just so I'd understand how complicated and delicate the procedure would be. It is NOT something that should be done for something as trivial as eye color changes.

Stranaton · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:15 am

The Artsy Lunatic wrote:

Blitz Walrus wrote:

If you were to make an original critter where would the dna come from? would you just use a massive pool of dna or can you actually code genes from scratch?

Okay I'm just throwing it out there but I don't think it's really possible to make a completely unique creature. When I say "unique" I mean one that doesn't have features of any other animal.

I mean, go ahead, try to think up a creature that would be original.

Now that you've got it, break it down. Its going to have features of some other animal, I don't think it's possible to design something ENTIRELY original. I mean, at least not a creature.

Jellyfish? I dunno. It's useless, unlike every other creature ever.

Syobon · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:34 am **Posts:** 15027

As for truly unique animals go, that's probably impossible. Evolution teaches us that we all stem from a common ancestor. The process itself has given us the widest variety of animals, since unique animals could fill open niches. And of course everything has to follow the same basic "laws".

Stranaton wrote:

Too tired today, need sleep. I think there are 6 or so chemicals that make all dna, if memory serves. Brain tired.

Yeah I probably missed one but I can't think of it. Well those are the main ones at any rate.

Zang · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:32 am

Stranaton wrote:

Jellyfish? I dunno. It's useless, unlike every other creature ever.

No I mean, think up an ORIGINAL creature. A jellyfish isn't something you invented bro.

Point is it's impossible to do because humans cant really think up an entirely original animal

Madican · **Joined:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:18 pm **Posts:** 13531

The Artsy Lunatic wrote:

Point is it's impossible to do because humans cant really think up an entirely original animal

Science-fiction/fantasy writers would disagree.

Blitz Walrus · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:34 am

We can't really think of anything original. Everything we can think of we have seen in some form.

Syobon · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:34 am **Posts:** 15027

The point is more that all animals have things in common. That's why they're grouped together as animals. All life forms have things in common as well, that's why they're grouped together as life.

Madican wrote:

Science-fiction/fantasy writers would disagree.

In this case it has to be something that actually works though.

Zang · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:36 am

Madican wrote:

Science-fiction/fantasy writers would disagree.

Yea, of course they would. But you see, show me a picture of a creature that has no existing animal features.

I mean, there isn't one. Can't be done. It's gonna have some sort of characteristics of SOMETHING, or else it would be a blob.

Even if it was a blob, it would probably have features of a slug or a jellyfish or something.

AWKWARD ZOMBIE

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