Science Talk

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[It's not mechanosynthesis, no, but I'm going to approve it anyway-- JSN]

I felt that those of you who read this group may feel sympathy of
interest in this article, I'm posting it below. The base URL for the
site is science dot qj dot net and has user-submitted news moderated
by other users. It's one of my favourite newsfeeds.

Playing artificial god: artificial life created in laboratory
Posted Oct 09, 2007 at 09:08AM by Isaac C. Listed in: Chemistry,
Biology Tags: carbon dioxide, Mycoplasma, DNA, Human Genome Project
Artificial life made in laboratory - Image 1A DNA researcher has
created a synthetic chromosome from lab chemicals. It's expected that
he will be announcing the successful creation of the first artificial
life form, maybe as early as next week. The researcher, Craig Venter,
is also involved in a commercial project parallel to the human genome
project by deciphering the human genetic code.

The chromosome that Venter's team created was based on the bacterium
Mycoplasma genitalium. Essentially the team broke down its components
to the barest essentials needed to support life, then reconstructed
the code using lab chemicals. The chromosome is then transplanted into
a living bacterial cell, which it will take over and change, creating
a new species.

The chromosome will be able to replicate and metabolize food using the
body of the cell it's been injected into. Essentially, the cell isn't
artificial, but its DNA is. It sounds like one of those mad scientist
movies, but something like this was bound to happen someday. After
cloning a sheep, this is just the next step.

Venter believes that life created in a test tube will be beneficial
for mankind if properly regulated. Custom made life could lead to
cells being used as alternative energy sources, the clean up crew for
excessive carbon dioxide, or even as new fuels. When asked how he
feels humankind will take the news, he says:

[This is] a very important philosophical step in the history of our
species. We are going from reading our genetic code to the ability to
write it. That gives us the hypothetical ability to do things never
contemplated before. [...] We are not afraid to take on things that
are important just because they stimulate thinking. We are dealing in
big ideas. We are trying to create a new value system for life. When
dealing at this scale, you can't expect everybody to be happy.

Taken from Science Quickjump Dot Net at

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laboratory/pg/49/aid/104556