Why Scientists Struggle to Create Artificial Life: Debunking the Myth of Atman
Recently, a claim has surfaced questioning why scientists have not managed to create artificial life. This skepticism often introduces the concept of Atman, a mythical entity some believe embodies the soul or essence of a living being. However, such claims are more articles of faith than scientific inquiry, and they fail to acknowledge the tremendous technological challenges involved in creating life from scratch.
What is Atman?
The concept of Atman is deeply rooted in Hindu philosophy and is often referenced in discussions about the soul or essence of life. According to ancient texts, Sri Krishna specifically stresses its existence, describing Atman as both permanent and real. This philosophical underpinning has been widely interpreted as a proof of some kind of supernatural essence in living beings.
However, from a scientific perspective, the existence of Atman has no bearing on the technological and biological challenges faced by synthetic biologists and bioengineers.
The Challenge of Creating Artificial Life
The endeavor to create artificial life is inherently a Himalayan technological challenge. Unlike hypothetical supernatural forces, the process of creating an artificial life form involves understanding and manipulating complex biological systems at the molecular level. This is an enormous leap from the current state of knowledge and technology.
Synthetic biology is one of the directions in which scientists are exploring this possibility. Recent achievements in this field include the synthesis of an artificial genome for a bacterium. This synthetic bacterium is capable of replicating like its natural counterpart. Does this count as the creation of artificial life?
While some might argue that it doesn’t because the synthetic genome was created to grow within an existing bacterium, the core issue remains the technological challenge. Creating a complex structure molecule-by-molecule is a monumental task. Scientists are asking the impossible: to achieve in decades what took the universe millions and billions of years.
Understanding Life at a Molecular Level
From a scientific standpoint, life appears to be less magical and more mundane. Given the right arrangement of biomolecules and the right conditions of physics and chemistry, we believe that life can occur without the need for any “life force.” There is currently no evidence of any supernatural or divine force that differentiates life from non-living things.
Historically, the idea that organic compounds were special and could not be synthesized in the laboratory was a significant barrier that was overcome long ago. Now, organic compounds are routinely synthesized in laboratories, and the creation of life forms is a challenge of a different magnitude.
Conclusion: Evidence-based Science vs. Philosophical Claims
Arguing that the technological challenges preventing scientists from creating artificial life from scratch is evidence for Atman is unreasonable. To elevate Atman from a religious or philosophical concept to a scientific one requires the rigorous application of scientific methodology. This includes coming up with empirical evidence and falsifiable predictions that can be tested and verified through experimentation.
As a researcher in nanophotonics, my expertise does not lie in synthetic biology or the broader field of life creation. However, my knowledge of basic scientific principles and the tools of scientific research allows me to question and debunk skeptical claims based on lack of evidence and overwhelming technological challenges.
It is important to distinguish between scientific inquiry and philosophical or religious beliefs. The creation of life is a complex and ongoing challenge that requires a blend of interdisciplinary knowledge and relentless technological innovation. Until we have concrete evidence and falsifiable predictions in the realm of synthetic life, it remains a domain of speculation rather than fact.