Kickstarter-project to simulate a complete living organism on cellular level

[DetlefK]

http://www.openworm.org/
http://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/246dlw/science_ama_series_im_stephen_larson_project/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/openworm/openworm-a-digital-organism-in-your-browser

The goal of the Openworm-project is to create a virtual organism, a completely simulated living being. They will model the nematode C. elegans, one of the biologically and genetically best-understood organisms in Earth.


The implications are far-reaching: If we can simulate a simple organism, we can simulate any organism we have investigated in the necessary resolution. And yes, this means, one day we can simulate a human brain.
(The AMA turned into a discussion whether the simulated worm has the consciousness of a real worm, as they are bodily identical.)

[sofa king]

1. Neat.

Once it's simulated, it can also be converted into an object file, and potentially even into a working model with moving parts.

Who wouldn't want a 400 meter long working model of a flatworm in their front lawn?

[DetlefK]

2. Or a robotic teddy-bear who thinks he's a Grizzly.