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THE FEVERISH IMAGINATION. “Synthetic biology and man-machine interfaces. Creating machine viruses that hack the brain and invade the human mind might sound like science fiction to some, but the real science is rapidly approaching. Synthetic biology—the ability to design artificial life—wedded to the emerging technology of man-machine interfacing creates a combination that is potentially deadly and one more than enough to whet the appetite of criminal hackers.” https://lnkd.in/dEPU6w6 View in LinkedIn

CYBER NIGHTMARE. “But there are more immediate possibilities for computer-biology crossovers. Synthetic biology uses computers to store genetic information, and Apvrille and Lovet explained that hackers could infect these devices or the software used for DNA sequencing, thereby modifying whatever biological product is being synthesized.” http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/could-human-and-computer-viruses-merge-leaving-both-realms-vulnerable/ View in LinkedIn

WITCHES BREW. “By using multiple vaccines in the same animals, the farmers acted as matchmakers for the intercontinental viruses. The weakened Australian and European strains infected the same cells, “mated” with each other, and shuffled their genetic material (the technical term is “recombined”).” https://lnkd.in/dG485cW View in LinkedIn

THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. “As for computer viruses speciating and evolving, Apvrille and Lovet believed that with enough data the code for a single computer virus might form spontaneously. Chances are slimmer, however, that it would include the necessary details to adapt and evolve. So far this scenario has only occurred in viruses in which researchers have encoded genetic algorithms to mimic evolutionary processes.” http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/could-human-and-computer-viruses-merge-leaving-both-realms-vulnerable/ View in LinkedIn

BIOHACKING. “When I look at the world of computing today, I see all of these hacks, all of these little exploits, whether it's spam or whether it's literally hacking into different systems and manipulating them in different ways. And I see the potential for biology to be used in very similar ways." http://www.computerworld.com/article/2471716/healthcare-it/dna-hackers--synthetic-biology-weaponized-virus--zero-day-exploit-to-infect-your-brain.html View in LinkedIn

OUT OF THE BOTTLE. “Synthetic biology "will grow faster than some computer technology" and then almost anyone can play God; the stuff of dreams and nightmares will become real.” http://www.computerworld.com/article/2471716/healthcare-it/dna-hackers--synthetic-biology-weaponized-virus--zero-day-exploit-to-infect-your-brain.html View in LinkedIn

LIBRARY OF WORDS. “Other peptides/small proteins are also emerging as important players involved in pollen–pistil crosstalk. Peptides play also major roles during reproduction in animals and lower organisms, for example, acting as pheromones in gamete communication in Chlamydomonas and yeast.” http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674205214608996 View in LinkedIn

THE THIN LINE. “Just as you can personalize your computer and mobile devices, advances in synthetic biology are allowing DNA hackers to personalize biology so that we will be able to use a DNA printer that will allow us "to print out our own treatments." You will be able to search for a flu or cold vaccine and then print out the genetic designs or download the "cure" via a smartphone app.” http://www.computerworld.com/article/2471716/healthcare-it/dna-hackers--synthetic-biology-weaponized-virus--zero-day-exploit-to-infect-your-brain.html View in LinkedIn

CROSSTALK MOLECULES. “Many of the crosstalk molecules identified to date represent various classes of secreted small proteins or peptides. In particular, the huge family of hundreds of CRPs, which has previously been shown to comprise proteins with essential roles in pathogen defense and symbiosis, has now emerged to contain key signaling factors in angiosperm reproduction.” http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674205214608996 View in LinkedIn

NEW PLAGUE. “Some day, when you hear about something going 'viral,' it will not apply to an idea or video but to a DNA hack going viral to infect the masses.” http://www.computerworld.com/article/2471716/healthcare-it/dna-hackers--synthetic-biology-weaponized-virus--zero-day-exploit-to-infect-your-brain.html View in LinkedIn