In article <5d5rv4$4ec@foglet.rutgers.edu>, Norman.Doering@vixen.cso.uiu c.edu writes
>I wondering, just how important is the concept of a universal assembler?
>Would Drexlerian Nanotechnology be severly handicapped if such an
>assembler could never be built?
The thing I've never understood is why people think that nanotechnology is the only method for developing self-assemblers. While it is _easier_, it is only because _any_ manufacturing on this scale is so much easier. Self-assembly on a macroscopic scale should have more resources allocated. As for nano, lets get a factory going, then wee can work on self-replication. As for being impossible: no way. The question is how complex are you willing to go: many small molecules are self-assembling and catalyzing. The problem is engineering larger structures to do the same, in oirder ot get something "useful".
-- David Weinstein: david.weinstein@virgin.net, no longer at Demon