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Volume 4, Issue 2
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Recombinant DNA and Self-replicating Molecular Manufacturing: Parallels and Lessons James B. Lewis, Ph.D Page 3 of 6 “In retrospect, very few of those attending the Asilomar Conference foresaw the pervasive, complex, robust, and rich ramifications of recombinant DNA technology. Nor could most have predicted the pace at which fundamental understanding of biology has deepened. As with all changes in human thought and technological developments, we are left with new and unanticipated issues. And, as so often in the past, science, which itself is a uniquely human endeavor, is challenging traditional ideas and values." What lessons does Asilomar have to teach us about “reconciling conflicts, apprehensions, and scientific ambitions regarding self-replicating nanotechnology”? Superficially, the threat of out-of-control replicators destroying the biosphere seems similar to the threat of a biological replicator with unexpected properties spreading disease. However, there is no real similarity because the idea of accidentally out-of-control assemblers was almost immediately (1988) recognized to be a red herring [3]. Furthermore, it soon (1992-1999) became apparent that universal self-replicating assemblers formed an extremely inefficient self-replicating molecular manufacturing system compared to more complex macroscopic nanofactories composed of large numbers of molecular mills and parts assemblers [4, 5, 6]. The risks of self-replicating nanotechnology were succinctly summarized by Phoenix and Drexler writing in 2004: "It has since become clear that all risk of accidental runaway replication can be avoided, since efficient manufacturing systems can be designed, built, and used without ever making a device with the complex additional capabilities that a hypothetical ‘grey goo robot’ would require. However, this does not mean that molecular nanotechnology is without risks. Problems including weapon systems, radical shifts of economic and political power, and aggregate environmental risks from novel products and large-scale production will require close attention and careful policymaking." [1] Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology, K. Eric Drexler, Anchor Books, New York, 1986. See Chapter 1, section 6 "Universal Assemblers" [2] Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology, K. Eric Drexler, Anchor Books, New York, 1986. See Chapter 11, section 1 "The Threat from the Machines" [3] "A Dialog on Dangers," K. Eric Drexler, originally published in 1988 [4] Nanosystems: Molecular Machinery, Manufacturing, and Computation, K. Eric Drexler, originally published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. in 1992. http://e-drexler.com/d/06/00/Nanosystems/toc.html [5] "Architectural Considerations for Self-replicating Manufacturing Systems," J. Storrs Hall, Nanotechnology 10, 323-330 (1999). http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/10/3/316; draft available at http://www.foresight.org/Conferences/index.html [6] "Safe exponential manufacturing," Chris Phoenix and Eric Drexler, Nanotechnology 15, 869-872 (2004). http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/15/8/001
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Terasem Mission Educate the public on the practicality and necessity of greatly extending human life, consistent with diversity and unity, via geoethical nanotechnology and personal cyberconsciousness, concentrating in particular on facilitating revivals from biostasis.
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