Without question, that's incredible. Little steps forward and we may just have complete technological simulacrums of life, would these not also be considered life as well?
Killing a sterile person doesn't deserve punishment?
Is a simulation of life considered life? Good question.
The line between crystals and viruses and bacteria and higher order life is very blurry.
Because it's so blurry it will be hard to draw a sharp crisp line between old life and any new man created life.
Isn't it generally true that the more variety there is of something, the easier classification becomes?
Perhaps digital life will help us come up with better definitions and greater understanding.