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SciTech Birth Day: February 11
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02. Alternative Energy
03. Computer Power
04. Nanotechnology
05. Stem Cells
06. Communications
07. Hydrocarbon Use
08. Clean Transportation
09. Online Information
10. DNA Decoding
11. Cell Biology
12. Photonics
13. Proteomics
14. Quantum Physics
15. Genetic Modification
16. Degrading Oceans
17. Robotics
18. Nanomedicine
19. Neuroscience
20. Extending Lifespan
21. Overpopulation
22. Scientific Instruments
23. Synthetic Biology
24. Nuclear Physics
25. Artificial Intelligence
26. Body Implants
27. Major Disease Cures
28. Water Shortage
29. Species Loss
30. Brain Enhancement
31. Origin of Life
32. Sensor Technology
33. Pandemics
34. Exogenous Life
35. Dark Matters
36. Cosmology
37. Energy Storage
38. Virtual/Augmented Reality
39. Space Exploration
40. Impact Event
Impact Areas listed in order of ranking

Update: Synthetic DNA in a bacterium (a.k.a. synthetic life)
The announcement by the J. Craig Venter Institute team of their creation of synthetic DNA (starting with a computer modeled bacterium genome and implanting it in another bacterium that had its DNA removed) has generated a considerable amount of media coverage. However, not as much as the Gulf Oil disaster, not by a long shot. There have been a few shrill headlines and quite a few using “Synthetic Life” or “Artificial Life,” but on a ‘round the globe look – not that much hooplah, actually. On speculation, I’d guess the relatively thin coverage is the result of a mixture of reasons: Confusion about what was really accomplished, a desire to downplay its significance for ideological or religious reasons, and the difficulty of presenting the story without a lot of background (it’s not an easy sound bite and there are almost no visuals). Nevertheless, there are plenty of reverberations around the world. Here are a few:
In the United States, President Obama called for the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues (BCSBI) to produce a report exploring the potentials of the new ‘synthetic life’ techniques. Two things to note: The speed of the White House announcement, which followed only a few hours after the Venter announcement (the White House was pre-briefed) and the fact that this commission is being given six months to come up with an analysis and recommendations – a relatively reasonable period of time.
PZ Meyers (Pharyngula) has a useful post that catalogs (and fillets) the probable range of religious, quasi religious, pseudo scientific, and denialist reactions to the story: Playing GOD!.
In the United States on Public Television, Charlie Rose presents a 25 minute Charlie Rose Show interview of J. Craig Venter shortly after the announcement. It was aired Friday, May 21, and will be posted at the Charlie Rose website. Venter appears tired and is given to repeating PR points, but under the circumstances and with friendly prompting it’s an interesting moment.
In the UK, The Guardian, Science has assembled perhaps the most extensive mainstream media coverage. Try the podcast of a Guardian panel: Why all the fuss?. Or the article: Synthetic life breakthrough could be worth over a trillion dollars