Scientists create artificial life in laboratory

**Jason** · 05-23-2010, 01:08 PM

Synthetic life has been created in the laboratory in a feat of ingenuity that pushes the boundaries of humanity’s ability to manipulate the natural world.
Craig Venter, the biologist who led the effort to map the human genome, said yesterday that the first cell controlled entirely by man-made genetic instructions had been produced.
The synthetic bacterium, nicknamed Synthia, has been hailed as a step change in biological engineering, allowing the creation of organisms with specialised functions that could never have evolved in nature. The team at the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Maryland, is investigating how the technology could yield microbes that make vaccines, and algae that turn carbon dioxide into hydrocarbon biofuels.
The achievement has, however, stirred ethical concerns. Critics called for tighter regulation, citing the potential for bioterror or “bioerror” that could endanger health or the environment.

Read more Scientists create artificial life in laboratory - Times Online

freeman · 07-06-2010, 01:23 PM

That is incredible that people can figure that out and create human life. I don't now exactly how I feel about it though... it seems a bit science fiction to me, but still incredible.

JohnQ · 07-07-2010, 10:40 AM

I can definitely see the potential for human error in this and I just don't know if it's right for people to go around creating life like that.

05-23-2010, 01:08 PM	#1
Jason Guard Dog 2012 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 3,126 Lodge:	Scientists create artificial life in laboratory Synthetic life has been created in the laboratory in a feat of ingenuity that pushes the boundaries of humanity’s ability to manipulate the natural world. Craig Venter, the biologist who led the effort to map the human genome, said yesterday that the first cell controlled entirely by man-made genetic instructions had been produced. The synthetic bacterium, nicknamed Synthia, has been hailed as a step change in biological engineering, allowing the creation of organisms with specialised functions that could never have evolved in nature. The team at the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Maryland, is investigating how the technology could yield microbes that make vaccines, and algae that turn carbon dioxide into hydrocarbon biofuels. The achievement has, however, stirred ethical concerns. Critics called for tighter regulation, citing the potential for bioterror or “bioerror” that could endanger health or the environment. Read more Scientists create artificial life in laboratory - Times Online __________________ Is trom an t-ualach an leisce. Ni heolas go haontios Agus na damnaithe fágtha gan focal Glaoigh ormsa i measc na naomh The sky is not the limit there are footprints on the moon.

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07-06-2010, 01:23 PM	#2
freeman Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 25 Lodge:	That is incredible that people can figure that out and create human life. I don't now exactly how I feel about it though... it seems a bit science fiction to me, but still incredible.

07-07-2010, 10:40 AM	#3
JohnQ Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 25 Lodge:	I can definitely see the potential for human error in this and I just don't know if it's right for people to go around creating life like that.