Almost to synthetic life

Scientists on the 24th announced that the second of three steps to create synthetic life has been successfully completed.

This second stage was the creation of an entire synthetic genome.

Last year, the same team completed the first step by transplanting a genome from one species of bacteria to another, changing it's identity.

The third step will be to take the synthesized DNA and get it into a bacterium where it will take over, and ultimately produce a synthetic cell...


So get this.

"Such an accomplishment would then allow scientists to create synthetic life-forms that may one day produce biofuels, clean up toxic waste, and fight global warming. (Related: "Gene-Altered Plant, Tree Can Suck Up Toxins" [October 15, 2007].)"

And,

"By 2012, he added, the technology should exist to routinely design and construct genomes of any bacteria or single-celled organism with a membrane-bound nucleus.

"Which also means," he said, "that it will be possible to construct some mammalian chromosomes."


... Anyone ever read Aldous Huxley's Brave New World?

Here we come.

Read the full story at: National Geographic News