Town Hall

Living Machines (September 2009)

In "Living Machines" and "DIY Bio," we learned
about students and scientists who are manipulating the DNA of bacteria
to make them do things like glow in the dark or run "relay races."
Eventually, they hope to use these techniques to make new vaccines or
other tools for humans. Do you think this is the technology of the
future? If you could create a bacterial "living machine" (silly or
serious), what would it do? Or do you think we should leave nature
alone?

OK, I think we should let Nature be!!!!!! But I also think this is a good idea... 

submitted by Mango "Actress" #2, age Old enough to read Muse, Somewhere over the rainbow
(September 12, 2009 - 7:27 pm)

Let nature be? We must make bacteria make my bed  HUZZA!

submitted by Spottedpelt1, age one of them, ome planet inthe starwars galixy
(September 13, 2009 - 6:46 pm)

HEY! YOU'RE IMPERSONATING ME! I'M MANGO!!! NOW STOP CALLING YOURSELF THAT!!!!!!!!!

submitted by THE REAL MANGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(September 19, 2009 - 1:04 pm)

No, the REAL MANGO IS MY CAT!!!!!!

submitted by someone, age something, somewhere
(July 13, 2010 - 3:01 pm)

who was the author of "liveing machines" i have to do a science project on a current event aobut science and i would like to do this article but i cna't if there i don't no the author . So who is it

The author was Elizabeth Preston. --Ed.

submitted by Travis Hahn, age 14, somewhere
(September 23, 2009 - 5:31 pm)

I think that living machines could go off in a different and more dangerous then intended, look at viruses, the flu mutates daily and a bacteria 'machine' that could eat more than disease. Of course STUPID IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

submitted by Ty U., age 12, Neenah, WI
(September 23, 2009 - 7:12 pm)

Ty makes a point. Remember what happened to Mary Shelly's Frankenstein? (But secretly, i would like to try this.)

submitted by Katrina S., age 11, NY, NY
(August 17, 2010 - 2:32 pm)

The bacteria should make a huge giant ship.

submitted by Jackson R., age 12, Chicago, IL
(September 24, 2009 - 8:21 am)

I like the idea of the vaccines. I am so scared of germs!!!!!! :C

submitted by Lily Z., age 9, Colorado Springs, CO
(October 10, 2009 - 8:03 pm)

I know how you feel. Every day I get home from school, I wash my hands very thouroughly with soap and water. My friends call me a "germ freak" because it is impossible to call me a "neat freak" after seeing my room. 

submitted by Caroline G, age 11, NC
(March 23, 2010 - 4:17 pm)

We should leave nature alone. Like Ty said, the scientists could make a mistake and the bacteria could turn out different than we expected, and harmful to us  all. Besides, I believe that it is wrong to take a living being, no matter how simple, and try to bend the way their bodies and minds function so that they do our will, regardless of the cause. I know that they're brainless germs, but they are still living organisms and therefore deserve to be treated as such! If they need to change, they can do so without our intervention. Maybe they already possess an unknown life-saving property that can save us all one day, but the original bacterium with this property will be extinct because we changed most individuals, and the rest died, so we'll die, too!

submitted by Bibliophile
(March 31, 2010 - 9:20 pm)

i think there should be muse printing bacteria

submitted by Paul M., age 11, North Carver, MA
(April 7, 2010 - 4:36 pm)