Playing God: creating new synthetic life forms
Unidentified unicellular bacteria
by Toby Ciranjiiva Tatsuyama-Kurk
Scientists reported this week that they were able to convert a cell into a new species following a complete DNA transplant. This is a revolutionary finding which will open up the potential of making new life forms by transplanting hand-crafted synthetic DNA into laboratory grown cell bodies.
Published in the online journal of Science, scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville transplanted the DNA from one species of bacteria into another species and watched as the recipient cell changed its entire identity by taking on all the characteristics of the donor DNA. Furthermore, this was the largest genome ever transplanted — about 1 million bases long versus the largest artificial chromosomes made thus far which was about half a million bases long.
“This is equivalent to changing a Macintosh computer into a PC by inserting a new piece of [PC] software,” said study leader J. Craig Venter, chief executive of Synthetic Genomics, a company racing to be the first to create fully synthetic, replicating cells. But until now, he said, it has not been clear if chromosomes could spur the machinery of life into action after landing in the innards of an unfamiliar cell.
In the next few months, having already received approval from ethics boards, the scientists will be attempting the first transplant of a synthetic chromosome into a cell, thus creating the first synthetic life form.
In the right hands, this technology can create new synthetic cells which produce biofuels that are cleaner and cheaper than oil and thereby solve our global energy and environmental crisis. On the other hand, we want to prevent the accidental creation of super-viruses or bioterrorism weapons which could wipe out humanity faster than anything found in nature. As with most disruptive technologies with their potential to do great good and great harm, we must be careful.
More information: “Life Swap:Switching genomes converts bacteria“
Lincoln Kim is a member of the healthcare and life sciences team of the MaRS Venture Group. He evaluates and supports the development of technology platforms and commercial market opportunities of start up and emerging companies, facilitates collaboration among research groups and between research scientists and industry.
As a quick update to the rise in synthetic biology, the scientific watchdog community is calling for the implementation of new regulations to govern synthetic biology research and test its safety. At present, synthetic biology is governed by the NIH’s recombinant DNA guidelines, which were written in 1974. Any release of synthetic biological organisms will have to be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It will be interesting to see how this debate ensues.
Read more here: http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/07/synthetic_bio
Posted by: Lincoln on July 26th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
[...] Creation of first man-made organisms [...]
Posted by: MaRS Blog - Innovation and Commercialization in Canada » Blog Archive » Top 10 Scientific Discoveries in 2007 on January 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm