Life-like evolution in a test tube

For more information on the future of synthetic biology, RNA, DNA and synthetic genomes, read "Life: what a concept!" (http://www.edge.org/documents/life/life_index.html). I found it mind-blowing.

Not 10 minutes ago I just finished reading "The Blind Watchmaker" and then you posted this article and the people who did this research are not one mile from where I live. What are the chances of that happening?

Not 18 months ago I just finished reading "The Blind Watchmaker" and then he posted this article and the people who did this research are not 8818 miles from where I live. What are the chances of that happening?

Inching along, making ever simpler replicators …

Great!