Mankind's first synthetic life form
This blog describes the creation of the first new synthetic life form ever created by the human race. My intention for this action is to one day build a living museum of robotic life forms, filled with many di
fferent types of “isobios” (isomorphic biological life forms). An entire synthetic ecosystem, powered solely by a single outside energy source much as the Sun is to Earth. I envision a place that exhibits the various different kinds of synthetic life, and where living “isobios” can be observed in their natural environment - where children and adults alike can come to see these fascinating creatures live.
Through this, I hope to bring about an awareness of our own fragile ecosystem and the effects that we humans have on it through – My hope is that a parallel viewing of this similar robotic ecosystem will give people a different view of our own ecosystem, how complex, yet how much it needs our help to survive.
Also bringing awareness to the many endangered species in our own ecosystem, which my heart goes out to - how our actions as a human race are directly affecting these other life forms, and Earth’s ecosystem as a whole.
I would like to partner with the endangered species of the world organizations, and also climate change awareness organizations, even perhaps NASA to showcase the various kinds of life forms that are different from our own yet could populate the universe at this very moment.
I also intend to create an educational curriculum course showcasing and investigating the various scientific and biologically inspired concepts in isomorphic life creation. My hope is that this will be taught in schools or universities, to give students a real understanding of how ecosystems, and their life forms, really come to be and share a deep connection to each other – as we ourselves are part of Earth’s ecosystem.
fferent types of “isobios” (isomorphic biological life forms). An entire synthetic ecosystem, powered solely by a single outside energy source much as the Sun is to Earth. I envision a place that exhibits the various different kinds of synthetic life, and where living “isobios” can be observed in their natural environment - where children and adults alike can come to see these fascinating creatures live. Through this, I hope to bring about an awareness of our own fragile ecosystem and the effects that we humans have on it through – My hope is that a parallel viewing of this similar robotic ecosystem will give people a different view of our own ecosystem, how complex, yet how much it needs our help to survive.
Also bringing awareness to the many endangered species in our own ecosystem, which my heart goes out to - how our actions as a human race are directly affecting these other life forms, and Earth’s ecosystem as a whole.
I would like to partner with the endangered species of the world organizations, and also climate change awareness organizations, even perhaps NASA to showcase the various kinds of life forms that are different from our own yet could populate the universe at this very moment.
I also intend to create an educational curriculum course showcasing and investigating the various scientific and biologically inspired concepts in isomorphic life creation. My hope is that this will be taught in schools or universities, to give students a real understanding of how ecosystems, and their life forms, really come to be and share a deep connection to each other – as we ourselves are part of Earth’s ecosystem.
What makes this robot "alive" ? The biological definition being "1. Having life, in opposition to dead; living; being in a state in which the organs perform their functions; as, an animal or a plant which is alive." (http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Alive)
ReplyDeleteI guess the question is better phrased "what 'organs' perform their functions to classify this 'alive'?
Hi jpopkes,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, you are thinking about this the right way, from a scientific standpoint, I'm impressed.
So, your question in itself shows the answer, namely "the BIOLOGICAL definition of being alive", and this is how us humans think of things as being alive, in terms of biology. But, there is no reason why something has to be inherently biological to have all the same properties of being alive.
This is the same principle many astronomers searching for life on other planets are currently coming to the same conclusion, that life as we know it with all its biological properties, definitely isn't the only way living creatures can exist elsewhere in the universe, or even on earth for that matter.
As for the second part of your question, "what organs perform their functions to classify it as 'alive'", this is a very good question, but again is very simply answered by understanding that this robot, itself, actually does have organs:
1) A metallic heart that beats, pumping 'blood' throughout.
2) A stomach and digestive system that create a metabolism.
3) A brain that learns, adapts, and strives for self-preservation.
4) A reproductive system that can pass down DNA from parent to child, both physical properties, and learned intellectual.
I have detailed plans drawn for for each of these properties, or 'organs' as they are called in the biological term, and when you get to that point of understanding, you see that really the only thing left to create, is the psychological mentality of people in the world, to accept that these truths are real, and can be found in robots as well as biological organisms to be called alive.
It all starts with human acceptance.