John - in theory you are probably correct. I'm not sure that your statement is sound: "That would seem to imply some kind of life to inorganic material." I'm not sure what you mean by "life". However "life" does utilize or incorporate inorganic elements such as calcium, iron, nitrogen, zinc, etc in the living cells, tissues, and organs that comprise living organisms.
The DNA of the diatom and other organisms is responsible for instructing specialized cells or organelles to produce specialized inorganic deposits. The software of a diatom does allow it to create a perforated glass bottle around itself. Aren't the wonders of nature amazing!? However it is probably much cheaper and easier for us to manufacture glass bottles and many other mechanical and electronic things. The potential of controlling DNA in cells has a lot of future benefits especially in the medical field where we cannot with machines manufacture replacement living body parts. Controlling DNA will be our salvation. Medical science is continually getting closer to this goal.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 07/26/14 08:33 AM.
