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December 24, 2005
Synthetic Biology
Work on the world's first human-made species is well under way at a research complex in Rockville, Md., and scientists in Canada have been quietly conducting experiments to help bring such a creature to life.
Their goal? To play a key role in the production of the first synthetic life-form - a microbe made from scratch.
The work is an extreme example of a burgeoning new field in science known as synthetic biology. Several scientific groups are trying to make genes that do not exist in nature, in hopes of reconstructing microbes that perform useful tasks such as producing industrial chemicals, clean energy and cheap drugs.
I find this bit of news fascinating. It has become apparent that we as humans have one tool that sets up apart from every other creature on this planet; we can be inventive, learn, and then pass that information on. It would seem our fate might be dictated by our hand after all and the ability to manufacture micro-organisms to solve many of our diseases and energy problems could revolutionize the way we live and improve the quality of life ten-fold.
However, just with any other new science, international security and ethics concerns place valid eyes on this new field. Could this technology be used to cheaply manufacture bio-weapons? Are we attempting to play the role of "God" by creating life on our own?
Currently, opponents have no warranted fear since even our advance science cannot get around the one universal law; you can't create an egg without the chicken. Sure we can put together all the genetic codes to make our microbe but we need that spark of life in order for the microbe to become active. Scientists are attempting to use natural microbes as a vehicle to absorb the artificially composed DNA and manufacture more by synthesis. To continue our example with the egg and chicken, they basically want to use a natural microbe as a surrogate mother.
I can't wait to hear more about this science.
Posted by tranism at 1:25 AM | Permalink