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July 28, 2003
Too Weird For Words
In another stellar example of "just because you can do something doesn't mean you should", scientists have created a "semi-living artist" from a blob of rat brain cells.
Gripping three coloured markers positioned above a white canvas, a robotic arm churns out drawings akin to that of a three-year-old. Its guidance comes from around 50,000 rat neurons in a petri dish 19,000 kilometres away.
What the hell are you people thinking? Do we really need smarter mutant rats? You've obviously never watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The computer translates any resulting neural activity into robotic arm movement. By closing the loop, the researchers hope that the rat culture will learn something about itself and its environment.
"I would not classify [the cells] as 'an intelligence', though we hope to find ways to allow them to learn and become at least a little intelligent." said Dr Potter.
"It's alive! It's alive!" Well, whoopty-do.
Kill it before it breeds.
Posted by Rita at July 28, 2003 07:37 AM
Comments
I am simultaneously horrified and fascinated.
Posted by: Keith at July 28, 2003 11:27 AM
Replicating Al Sharpton's brain! What will they think of next?
Posted by: Bill at July 28, 2003 02:28 PM
Too late! It already bred. The evil spawn is named "Michael Moore"!!!!
Posted by: Ralph Gizzip at July 28, 2003 08:33 PM