We report the design, synthesis, and assembly of the 1.08-Mbp Mycoplasma mycoides JCVI-syn1.0 genome starting from digitized genome sequence information and its transplantation into a Mycoplasma capricolum recipient cell to create new Mycoplasma mycoides cells that are controlled only by the synthetic chromosome. The only DNA in the cells is the designed synthetic DNA sequence, including “watermark” sequences and other designed gene deletions and polymorphisms, and mutations acquired during the building process. The new cells have expected phenotypic properties and are capable of continuous self-replication.

Creation of a Bacterial Cell Controlled by a Chemically Synthesized Genome

The more research I do on this, the more awe-struck I am by the accomplishment and potentials.

“To live, to err, to fall, to triumph, to recreate life out of life” indeed.

However, the beautiful calamity of evolution will seep into the created genetic lines and cause changes that the designers won’t be able to foresee or stop. It’s been that way since Eden (and even frustrated YHWH).

In the end, nature still is in charge.

At that time, Bent Stumpe was an electronics engineer, newly recruited to work on developments for the SPS Central Control room. One of the things his supervisor asked him to build as soon as possible was a device to control a pointer on a screen, also called a tracker ball.

The bowling balls – CERN Bulletin

Fascinating how revolutionary objects often get their start as very practical ideas. 

Spartanburg Day School’s New Upper School

“The architectural style is a little bit different than what you’ve seen on campus so far,” Jacobs said. “This is really a new image for the school. It looks back to sort of the history of private day schools in this country.”

So exciting to be a part of this process and I’m happy my students will get to enjoy the benefits of a new space and ever-vitalized school in the coming years.

Over and over again, I find that people’s mental model of who can see what doesn’t match up with reality. People think “everyone” includes everyone who searches for them on Facebook. They never imagine that “everyone” includes every third party sucking up data for goddess only knows what purpose. They think that if they lock down everything in the settings that they see, that they’re completely locked down. They don’t get that their friends lists, interests, likes, primary photo, affiliations, and other content is publicly accessible.

apophenia » Blog Archive » Facebook and “radical transparency” (a rant)

Exactly. 

Speaking to my students about privacy and 6 degrees never seems to hit home.

I should do more demonstrations of how Facebook’s default privacy settings really does expose them in ways they don’t immediately realize.

Find out what basic safety equipment is in the lab. This affects what kind of activities you can plan. Ask ahead of time if notebooks and other consumable materials have been ordered. Once the school year starts, it’s often hard to get things that are not in inventory. Ask what technology will available to you in the classroom, such as an interactive white board, “clickers,” probeware, cameras, or projection attachments for microscopes. If the school does not provide a laptop you can take home, invest in some USB flash drives you can use to take files to work on at home.

Question from a new teacher

Very relevant and timely info for those of our species lucky enough to be entering the teaching profession but that have no clue what they’re in for…