Jun 1, 2012 -- 12:46AM, teilhard wrote:

There's a Shop in our Neighborhood that specializes in minutely perfect Restoration of Old Cars ... It is  a THRILL to stop in once in a while and see these Guys at work and hear them explain what they're doing ... They not infrequently manufacture new/old Parts then and there ... 

True, I've whittled many an exapted part to perform a necessary function. 

LOL ... Yes, they do use Metal that came from:

"The Big Bang" ---> Stellar Nuclear Synthesis ---> Planetary Processes ---> Mining and Refining ...

Jun 1, 2012 -- 12:48AM, Oncomintrain wrote:

From scratch? Or do they use metal that already exists?

Jun 1, 2012 -- 12:46AM, teilhard wrote:

There's a Shop in our Neighborhood that specializes in minutely perfect Restoration of Old Cars ... It is  a THRILL to stop in once in a while and see these Guys at work and hear them explain what they're doing ... They not infrequently manufacture new/old Parts then and there ... 

I think indeed that the Line between "Life" and non-"Life" is very fuzzy indeed ... Viruses and Prions, e.g., are certainly NOT "Alive," but they are on a very fuzzy Border-Land ...

But ... again ... I several Times (below) indicated that Venter's Work is indeed a SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT ... There's NO "Discredit" there .... 

(But as to Venter having used "preadapatation" ... ??? I don't think so ...)

Jun 1, 2012 -- 9:00AM, rsielin wrote:

Jun 1, 2012 -- 8:07AM, teilhard wrote:

Ummmm ... What Venter did was NOT "abiogenesis" ... 

True, re-creating life would not be abiogenesis; it would just be revealing a legitimate pathway; a re-arrangement and re-combination of existing parts, so to speak.

Why do you discredit Venter for exaptation when nature employs it all the time? Isn't it just a matter of degrees? Or could it be professional envy?

What Venter smokes is none of my Business, obviously ...

How about a "Tiparillo" .. ???

Jun 1, 2012 -- 9:14AM, rsielin wrote:

Jun 1, 2012 -- 9:08AM, teilhard wrote:

Venter's Work is indeed a SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT ... There's NO "Discredit" there .... 

But the cigar ... my irritation is all about the cigar. Give the man his cigar already!