Robotics, Transhumanism, Mind Control

A New Era in Science: "Synthia" the First Synthetic Life is Created

May 20, 2010

InventorSpot.com - Today, in Science, the first artificial cell was born.

Scientists from the J Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) in Maryland and California announced today that they have developed the first synthetic living cell. Though theoretically this cell is the first step in the creation of artificial life, the inventors are focusing their efforts on creating new fuels, effective ways to clean polluted water, and faster vaccine production...

Scientists have moved single genes and chunks of DNA from one species to another before, but Dr. Craig Venter's team met a milestone a few years ago, transplanting an entire natural genome of one bacterium into another and watched the original goat germ turn into a cattle germ.

Later Venter's lab distinguished itself by building a small bacterium's genome with man-made DNA fragments, piece by piece - another milestone.

It was both milestone achievements that, combined, led the team to the 'synthetic cell' disclosed today. The researchers started out by combining two small species of Mycoplasma with a chemically synthesized goat germ genome, and finally transplanted that into a living cell from a different Mycoplasma species.

The team encountered an obstacle here and they eventually had to spell check (!) the DNA fragments of the synthetic genome to make sure there were no errors. The delay in the achievement of their goal was about three months, but finally, they learned the spell checker found a typo in the genetic code!

Once it was fixed, the synthetic DNA and its cytoplasm, having been tagged to distinguish it from the DNA of the natural Mycoplasma, started to produce its own proteins. Those proteins showed no relationship to their synthetic, genetic 'parent,' but instead looked and behaved exactly like the natural Mycoplasma.

Synthetic DNA may cause ethical concerns for some, but Synthia, as she (?) is fondly called by her creators, is getting plenty of praise from companies ready to join the new field of synthetic biology, a combination of chemistry, computer science, molecular biology, genetics and cell biology, to breed industrial life forms that can secrete fuels, vaccines or other saleable products."

Daisy, meet Synthia.

DNA Robots on the Move

Machines made of DNA could one day assemble complex--and tiny--electrical and mechanical devices.

May 12, 2010

Technology Review - Its precise structure and ability to bind with other molecules makes DNA an attractive scaffolding material for nanotech researchers. Scientists have already used DNA to construct two-dimensional patterns, three-dimensional objects, and simple shape-changing devices. Now two teams of researchers have separately made complex programmable machines using DNA molecules.

Researchers from Columbia University, Arizona State University, and Caltech have made a device that follows a programmable path on a surface patterned with DNA. Meanwhile, researchers from New York University, led by DNA nanoarchitecture pioneer Ned Seeman, have combined multiple DNA devices to make an assembly line. The nano contraption picks up gold nanoparticles as it tumbles along a DNA-patterned surface.

The two machines, described in today's Nature journal, are a possible step forward in making DNA nanobots that could assemble tiny electrical and mechanical devices. DNA robots could also put together molecules in new ways to make new materials, says Lloyd Smith, a chemistry professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"Robots might have the ability to position one molecule in a particular way so that a reaction happens with another molecule which might not happen if they randomly collide in solution," he says ...

Ouidoo Has Arrived: The First Mobile Handset Designed to Support Next-Generation Augmented Reality

April 20, 2010

Press Release - QderoPateo, a global leader in the development and delivery of Articulated Naturality and pioneers of the proprietary ambient intelligence technology, is set to unveil its much-anticipated Ouidoo Scene device at the "Above the Clouds" event planned for Friday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. on the 93rd Floor of the Shanghai World Financial Center, just in time for the opening of the Shanghai World Expo.

The event, which will bring together pioneers in the augmented reality space, as well as leading executives from the mobile and wireless industries, is designed as a preview of the unprecedented processing and computing power and energy efficiency of the Ouidoo device.

Beyond a typical smart phone, the Ouidoo Scene features a multi-core CPU and multiprocessor chip system designed specifically to flawlessly handle the rigorous demands of articulated naturality applications, which merge real-world environments with augmented reality's 3D digital features.

Paul Saleh, General Partner of Menza Partners LLC, an advisor to QderoPateo and previously acting CEO of Sprint Nextel stated:

"The Ouidoo is the first fully capable augmented reality mobile device with a complete end-to-end platform designed specifically for Articulated Naturality. The Ouidoo from QderoPateo seamlessly blends the physical and digital world in a very natural way. Ouidoo is a giant leap forward in mobile computing that set a standard not only in chipset, hardware and speed, but in its ability to redefine the mobile Internet experience."

QderoPateo plans to begin production of the device in Q2 to be compatible with TD-SCDMA, the Chinese 3G standard. A CDMA2000 EV-DO version for the U.S. and a W-CDMA and GSM version are also in the works. The company is set to demo the device at the Shanghai World Expo and shipments will begin sometime in the summer.

"This device is the most powerful and efficient mobile device in the world in terms both its processing capability and low energy consumption," said Steve Chao, Co-founder of QderoPateo. "Where other devices are limited by provisioning specific processors to handle specific tasks, the Ouidoo system's multiple-core processors scale efficiently to meet the needs of the whatever task is needed -- from video and data integration to rendering complex 3D objects quickly and projecting them into the natural environment for a truly immersive Articulated Naturality experience."

The Ouidoo Articulated Naturality experience represents the next evolution of -- a renaissance of sorts -- in augmented reality, the first step in the creation of an entirely new digital eco-system standard that converges the Internet as we know it with the real world. With Articulated Naturality, users can play games and interact with 3D avatars, tag their environment with information for other users and actually project the Internet into an urban environment.

"Current sensor-based, camera view technologies only enable users to experience a 1.0 version of AR," said Matt Gaines, Co-founder of QderoPateo. "With Articulated Naturality on the Ouidoo, we can achieve complete seamless integration, where virtual changes appear in real time for true interaction. Just like the PC evolved to become the tool for accessing the Internet as we know it, the Ouidoo will become the access device for the articulated urban world."

In conjunction with the Ouidoo unveiling, QderoPateo plans to introduce a new concept called the Gaian, which uses the device to promote climate change by planting a real tree for every virtual tree planted via the Ouidoo. The company has secured hundreds of acres in China for the project that aims to bring the idea of climate change down to earth for the average person.

"There have been numerous summits held globally and lots of discussion among the experts and scientists about climate change and how we can stop its progression," Chao said. "But, the average consumer is not exposed to these summits and discussion. Gaian is one way that individuals can take a small step that, collectively, will make a big difference."

About QderoPateo

QderoPateo is a pioneering global developer and provider of mobile augmented reality entertainment, business and lifestyle solutions that enhance the quality of life for users around the world. The company's U.S. headquarters is located in New York, NY, with offices in Shanghai and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.qderopateo.com.