Self-Replication Process Holds Promise for Production of New Materials

sciencedaily.com

20 points·llambda··6 comments

This is the start (progress?) of the much-anticipated and denounced molecular nanotech. Notice the article carefully avoids calling it that...

The science is awesome and terrifying. It brings us one step closer to the grey goo doomsday outcome.

I wouldn't worry much now. Natural self replicators abound. The synthetic one described here require very specialized conditions and resources. I think the man-made replication has a long way to go before outdoing Nature.

Except for the fact that natural self replicators are in a predator/prey balanced ecosystem, synthetic replicators could be a monstrously invasive species.

If your replicating in the wild your basically stuck with organic chemistry as building blocks (C,N,H,O) plus a few 'exotics' when you really need them. Add to that the need for a plentiful energy source to replicate rapidly. We may be able to improve on some things and make a better form of chlorophyll etc., but as long as we are using organic chemistry it's going to be very hard to create something that does not quickly end up as something else’s food or host.

Don't forget that organic bacteria/virii/fungus can also be extremely deadly. Even artificial ones. But yes, it'd be more like biological threat than "grey goo scenario".

What if they "eat" electronic devices and other human artifacts instead of organic compounds? Would that contain enough "exotics"? It wouldn't be as directly deadly as nanobots eating meat, but could do great harm to our civilization.

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