Scientists at the private J. Craig Venter Institute have created the first fully synthetic one-celled organism. The cell, programmed by scientists with specific DNA structures, has the potential to reproduce, leading many to question the ethical and legal ramifications of such an achievement.
So far, no one’s said the cell will replace normal reproduction—which is a relief; especially now, considering doctors have given the go-ahead for victims of heart attacks to engage in sexual activities. "[After surviving a heart attack,] if you can walk up two flights of stairs or do moderate exercise, then it's OK to have sex," said Dr. Stacy Tessler Lindau, sexuality researcher at the University of Chicago.
Academically, there seem to be more risks surrounding sex than just potential cardiac arrest. Actual arrest, for example, as Bejing university professor Ma Yaohai recently discovered when he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for organizing group sex parties. The arrest follows a Chinese crackdown on thousands of individuals engaging in swinging or "partner swapping" lifestyles.
Ma defended his lifestyle, saying: "Marriage is like water, you have to drink it. Swinging is like wine. Some people feel it's delicious the first time they try it, so they keep drinking.”
At least he wasn't hauled off to the hoosegow for showing a colleague a paper on fruit bat sex.
So far, no one’s said the cell will replace normal reproduction—which is a relief; especially now, considering doctors have given the go-ahead for victims of heart attacks to engage in sexual activities. "[After surviving a heart attack,] if you can walk up two flights of stairs or do moderate exercise, then it's OK to have sex," said Dr. Stacy Tessler Lindau, sexuality researcher at the University of Chicago.
Academically, there seem to be more risks surrounding sex than just potential cardiac arrest. Actual arrest, for example, as Bejing university professor Ma Yaohai recently discovered when he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for organizing group sex parties. The arrest follows a Chinese crackdown on thousands of individuals engaging in swinging or "partner swapping" lifestyles.
Ma defended his lifestyle, saying: "Marriage is like water, you have to drink it. Swinging is like wine. Some people feel it's delicious the first time they try it, so they keep drinking.”
At least he wasn't hauled off to the hoosegow for showing a colleague a paper on fruit bat sex.
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