Category: Uncategorized

PREVAILING DOGMA. “There is no evidence for human-like language syntax in any nonhuman species.” (Chomsky) https://lnkd.in/eHTtV3v View in LinkedIn

MORE THAN PHEROMONES. “The nematode C. elegans secretes ascarosides as pheromones to induce development of the dauer larval stage at high population densities, as well as to control various behaviors, including male attraction to hermaphrodites, hermaphrodite attraction to males, avoidance, foraging behavior, and adult aggregation.” https://lnkd.in/dQ48vr2 View in LinkedIn

DARWIN KNEW. Worms have been mapped, counted, weighed, divided into species. We have ground them up to measure their chemistry, poisoned them in the soil to count their numbers, measured their impact on soil turnover, but really, we know next to nothing about this plentiful creature, let alone how to speak worm. But early indications show that they are far more complex than anyone ever thought, except Darwin (in his 1881 book, The formation of Vegetable Mould by the Action of Worms). https://lnkd.in/exyGWjD View in LinkedIn

DARKER MOTIVES. “The team also plans to continue deconstructing the language they have found among nematodes. For example, Sternberg wonders, how many different combinations of chemicals mean "food," or "mate," or "attack"? If the scientists can crack the code in terms of what different blends mean to different species, they can begin to interfere with the actions of the nematodes that wreak havoc across the world—leading to better eradication of plant pests, as well as human and animal parasites.” https://lnkd.in/d6Gc9fp View in LinkedIn

POISONED BUT NOT UNDERSTOOD. Despite the fact that nematodes (a type of worm) are immensely prevalent, and gather in large communities to mate and feed, barely a single publication can be found on how they communicate with one another. We barely give them credit for their complex societies. More is known about how to poison them that about their ecology. https://lnkd.in/efXjHUb View in LinkedIn

ONE IS ENOUGH. "The last time a piece of mutable self-replicating code got out of control – when the selfish gene chain-reaction took off about 3.5 billion years ago – the harvest was very remarkable indeed” (Dawkins, 1992). https://lnkd.in/dGnhiwY View in LinkedIn

ONE LEVEL CROSSOVER. “Learn how a researcher infected himself with a computer virus. Dr. Mark Gasson, senior research fellow at University of Reading, explaining how he inserted a RFID chip under the skin between his thumb and first finger. After the RFID implant was in place, Dr. Gasson was able to infect it with a virus. And more importantly, infect (replicate the virus) other devices." https://lnkd.in/d2b3iQn View in LinkedIn

TWO LEVEL CROSSOVERS. "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." https://lnkd.in/dmzuNWh View in LinkedIn

WHY NOT #2. "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." https://lnkd.in/dmzuNWh View in LinkedIn

WHY NOT #1. "Apvrille and Lovet argued that both scenarios are possible, with a few caveats to each. Scientists have already synthesized viruses such as polio and SARS for research purposes, so it's conceivable that someone could synthesize viruses as bioweaponry." https://lnkd.in/dmzuNWh View in LinkedIn