[el_zorro]

The quote at the end of the article really struck me:

"We are as gods, and might as well get good at it."

I think that this is something that everyone involved with technology and science should think about. The fear of what we can create should never stop us from creating, but should instead serve as an impetus for more enlightened uses. I think that, as we have the ability to create biological diversity, we should do so (albeit in a responsible way). The same goes for every other technology that is being developed.

[valarauca1]

The quote is taken form the Whole Earth Catalog [1]. Jobs referenced it a lot the quote you are using is its first line. Its last line which is often attributed to Jobs is in fact the, "Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whole_Earth_Catalog

[nkoren]

The reference -- and the concern about tinkering with the tree of life -- goes a bit further back:

"And YHVH said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now -- lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever -- let us send him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." -- Genesis 3:22-3:24

(Nb.: Citation of religious text does not imply endorsement thereof.)

[giantrobothead]

Funny that you should mention the Whole Earth Catalog, as Stewart Brand has been heavily involved in this venture.

TED Radio Hour did a piece on this in a recent show. It's worth a listen:

http://www.npr.org/2013/08/10/209178988/the-hackers?showDate...