The first paragraph of article states, “Craig Venter, the controversial DNA researcher involved in the race to decipher the human genetic code, has built a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals and is poised to announce the creation of the first new artificial life form on Earth.”

To read the entire Guarian article, please go to the following website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/oct/06/genetics.climatechange.

However, Venter spokesperson Heather Kowalski said, “The Guardian is ahead of themselves on this.” She declined to confirm the publicized statement. Kowalski went on to say, “We have not achieved what some have speculated we have in synthetic life. When we do so there will be a scientific publication and we are likely months away from that."

American biologist and businessman John Craig Venter was born on October 14, 1946 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He completed his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry (1972) and his doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in physiology and pharmacology (1975) from the University of California at San Diego. While working at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Venter learned how to identify messenger ribonucleic acid (MRNA), a molecule of RNA that identifies protein, in cells. He used that knowledge to identify human brain genes. He attempted to patent these genes, but lost the court case.

Later he founded Celera Genomics, which used a technology called shotgun sequencing to create a private database of genomic data that ran parallel to the public actions of the Human Genome Project (HGP). Both sides of the HGP jointly announced the completion of their mapping efforts in 2000. Venter left Celera and founded the J. Craig Venter Institute in October 2006. The non-profit Institute researches genomics and studies the social implications of such actions. The laboratory performs research in such fields as environmental genomic analysis, clean energy, synthetic biology, and genomic medicine.

The J. Craig Venter Institute is the laboratory that Venter is using for the development and production of the artificial chromosome.

The (largely) artificial chromosome being developed  is called Mycoplasma laboratorium, and is nicknamed Synthia. A patent was applied for it in 2006. It is a single cell organism with 381 genes, the minimum number of genes necessary for a bacterium to live. The chromosome is largely artificial because it was created from an already existing organism called Mycoplasma genitalium. One-fifth of the genes were removed from M. genitalium in order to make M. labaoratorium.

Synthia is supposedly being created as a way to eventually create a new energy source to help alleviate worldwide energy concerns.

Controversy surrounds the artificially created chromosome. Environmental, social, ethical , and religious concerns have been voiced by scientists, government officials, and other concerned groups. However, other groups see the potential that could be offered by an artificially created organism. Many believe that Venter’s group has the ability and knowledge to build such a chromosome.

No doubt more news—and further debate and controversy—will be forthcoming on Venter’s work.


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