I think copying of DNA from RNA has been reported by science, but of course I cant' t give you any new evidence on the subject. I'm not a scientist, just a great reasoner. One reason why science don't know much on this is that not much effort is put in to solve it. Man went to the moon because a lot of effort was put into it. Maybe these fantastic new DNA computers can help us cast some enlightening on the matter.
Animals are conscious.
Our current mastery of nature belongs primarily to our superb processing of the brain. That is our way and key to success. Belief in magic is deterioration of human ratio and the recluse of the scared and the weak of mind. Still I believe in magic as something that belongs to unselfish non-humans. The species get what they want and change when they truly need it.