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Scientists to play god by synthesizing custom organisms

Posted By Scott Klarr on Jan 26, 2008 at 2:53 pm

The Ultimate Programming

Scientists have taken 147 pages of what would appear to a normal person as randomized letters, and created the first synthetic genome.

By using yeast, the scientists have been able to stitch together DNA to form the genome of a bacterium called Mycoplasma genitalium. Synthetic DNA creation has been done before, but now with the creation of an actual genome, we are one step closer to designing and programming our own life forms -- possibly only months away. In fact, scientists say to expect the announcement of man-mad life sometime this year.

Some critics say that new laws must be put in place to regulate and keep a close eye on these technologies for obvious reasons. While the possibilities of what can be done are great, for example they can create organisms that will naturally produce chemicals we use like ethanol, there is also the unfortunate fact that humans are destructive.

We discover how to harness explosions, we make bullets and bombs. We learn how to harness nuclear physics - we create bigger bombs. We learn how to fly, we make planes to drop those bombs. You get the point. When we are to the point of creating our own organisms, I can see it getting out of hand very easily. Perhaps a new virus that ends up clearing the world of all humans, or something that transforms us into zombies much like many hollywood storylines.

Only time will tell what will happen, good or bad. I personally am excited to see this happening because I like to think of the potential good it can do. Not to mention its completely fascinating.

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