A conversation on TED.com: If one day we are able to make cells, could we eventually build organic machines?

Robertson Klaingar
Houston, TX
United States

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If one day we are able to make cells, could we eventually build organic machines?

For example, cars that use ATP or some similar biomolecule to fuel themselves, making use of feedback loops and alternate mechanisms when they run out of certain molecules etc

Related Talks:

Craig Venter unveils "synthetic life"

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Matt Train
- 0
Feb 28 2011: I once had a dream in which my grandparents were playing bowls on a grass pitch. Usually when you finish a game you have to go and gather up the balls to start over again. But in this case the turf underneath each ball swallowed it and then "spit" it out next to the feet of my grandparents ready for another game to begin.

I think I also saw an advert for a car once where as the car drove past trees at night, the leaves lit up to guide the way as the car went past/approached them.

Organic Technology like that would be very cool. I have no idea if it's possible but wanted to share these pictures of what things could look like :)
Farrukh Yakubov 50+
- 0
TED Translator Associate

Feb 21 2011: I think that literally creating a complex cell is more challenging than creating organic machines.
Jordan Miller 20+
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Feb 21 2011: yes but I don't think transportation would be a good application for them - you might as well use a horse.
Drew Sowersby
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Feb 21 2011: ATP is cell currency, but is derived from biomass like biofuels and fossil fuels. Craig Venter and other scientists have already created a cell....basically from scratch.

"On May 20, 2010, Venter announced the creation of first self-replicating synthetic bacterial cell."--Wikipedia
- Farrukh Yakubov 50+
  - +1
  TED Translator Associate
  
  Feb 22 2011: One should not see modification as creation. As far as I know, and based on facts, people did not yet make a cell from scratch as it means. In case of above example, it was a modification of already existing cell, by adding to it a molecular structure.
  - Drew Sowersby
    
    0
    Feb 23 2011: hint...basically from scratch.
    
    The beauty of life is that it creates itself. One should look at the process of complexification and emergence of new species or lifeforms as creation. Life begets life....a little different each time.
    
    The ability to engineer a cell with specific instructions is the future and it will result (already has) in a new era of technological capabilities. However, these machines are not likely to be crafted as cars. We have superior non-organic materials for that.