Scientists Create “Artificial Life”

US based scientists say they have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell. The US based researches constructed a bacterium’s “genetic software” and transplanted it into host cell. The resulting microbe then proceeded to look and also behave like the species effectively dictated by the synthetic DNA.

Critics have spoken out about the dangers of developing synthetic life forms and have heavily criticized the experiment, which has been billed as a scientific breakthrough.

Researchers hope to further develop the breakthrough to eventually create cells that can provide fuels, medicine and even combat and absorb harmful greenhouse effect gasses.

The team, led by Dr Craig Venter of the J Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) in Maryland and California. Dr Venter has previously made a synthetic bacterial genome and successfully transplanted this genome of one bacterium to another.

The team of scientists has successfully put both of their methods together to create what they are calling a synthetic cell, although in truth the only true synthetic element is the genome. Dr Venter went on to compare the experiment as similar to making new software for the cell.

The researchers copied an existing bacterial genome. They sequenced its genetic code and then used “synthesis machines” to chemically construct a copy.

Once the transplant was completed the bacteria went on to replicate itself over a billion times and in doing so it produced copies of itself that controlled the host cell. The team of scientists hopes to further develop their methods in the hope they can develop a cell that can then perform functions of some value.

Dr Venter and his team of scientists are currently already collaborating and working with some pharmaceutical and fuel development companies in a bid to design and develop cell chromosomes for bacteria that could hopeful produce some useful methods of fuel and new vaccines and medicines.

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