Despite the way the subject sounds, this isn’t a post about metaphysics or philosophy.

Yesterday, I posted about a two related Supreme Court decisions on the same day. I came across another coincidence last week as well, and I’m not sure which one of the two concerns me more.

On May 21, two apparently-unrelated stories broke about scientific developments involving the intersection between man and machine. Taken together, it’s clear we’re getting closer to a place where the line between is so blurred as to be non-existent.

From one side, scientists have discovered a way for the mechanical to make the biological: they’ve created cells powered by man-made DNA.

The inventors call it the world’s first synthetic cell, although this initial step is more a re-creation of existing life – changing one simple type of bacterium into another – than a built-from-scratch kind.

But Maryland genome-mapping pioneer J. Craig Venter said his team’s project paves the way for the ultimate, much harder goal: designing organisms that work differently from the way nature intended for a wide range of uses. Already he’s working with ExxonMobil in hopes of turning algae into fuel.

“This is the first self-replicating species we’ve had on the planet whose parent is a computer,” Venter told reporters.¹

From another side, scientists have produced a way for the biological to interact and direct the mechanical: use of ATP (a molecule involved in expressing the body’s energy) to control mechanical devices attached to the body.

The nano-sized device could be used in medical devices or prosthetics wired directly into the human body.

“Our devices make a bridge between the biological world and the electronic world,” said Aleksandr Noy, who developed the transistor along with colleagues at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories in California. “In effect, we made a biological protein talk directly with a nanoelectronic circuit.”²

Don’t misunderstand me: both of these advancements are baby steps toward the line I mention above. Both also represent an enormous potential in areas like prosthetics and environmental science. In addition, I’m aware that there’s a faction who would gleefully refer to me as evidence that cyborgs already exist, since I use an artificial device to function.³

They’re both valid points of view, even though the second one involves a bit of mental stretching. But so is a point of view that would talk about the negative consequences associated with controlling our bodies on the cellular level — and point out that my artificial devices are not permanently attached to my body.

I’m a fan of both Star Trek, which depicts a future enhanced by technology, and the 2000s-era Battlestar Galactica, which depicts a society ruined by technology. In both cases, the fictional history of humanity contains moments in time where the result could have gone the other way. We as a race seem to be rapidly approaching one of those moments of time ourselves.

The difference is that our history isn’t fictional. Neither are our lives.

1. A step to artificial life: Manmade DNA powers cell (Associated Press)
2. New transistor allows humans, machines to merge. Are cyborgs imminent? (Christian Science Monitor)
3. Vision-correcting lenses. I use both glasses and contacts though not at the same time.