Synthetic Creatures could “save nature” says Alexandra Daisy
Ginsberg
In a futuristic proposal called Designing for the Sixth
Extinction explores the idea of putting synthetic living creatures into the
wild to save endangered species and clean up pollution. Ginsberg states, "The idea is that we could preserve or maintain a
state of nature using synthetic organisms that are designed to save other
species." Four new species have been proposed including a slug that
leaves a trail of alkali to neutralize acidic soil and a porcupine with sticky
rubber spines that would help disperse seeds of threatened plants. There is also an artificial puffball that
kills tree-damaging pathogens when it bursts; and a biofilm that grows on
leaves and absorbs pollutants and viruses, safely removing them when the leaves
fall in autumn. The creatures would be engineered to contain a genetic
"kill switch" that would prevent them from over-breeding and creating
new environmental problems.http://www.dezeen.com/2013/11/13/synthetic-creatures-could-save-nature-says-alexandra-daisy-ginsberg/
http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/synthetic-creatures-could-save-the-planet-131115.htm
I think this would be an awesome idea to save threatened areas of the environment, as well as helping to keep other species from dying out. The only problem is that the genetically modified animals could cause a big problem for some people, especially those against genetic modification. I feel these new synthetic creatures will either be a hit or a miss, for me I hope its a hit. Another slight problem is, what would happen if humans ever came into contact with these synthetic creatures? Would it harm us or would the kill switch turn off when we come into contact with them, like it does with other plants and creatures?
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