TAG | Venter Lab creates first synthetically made genome |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Tuesday, 29 January 2008 | |
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Page 2 of 2 However, as more of these base pairs are brought together the structure has the tendency to weaken and eventually break apart. They state that previous to the accomplishment of the Venter team, which brought together 582,970 base pairs, the previous record was 32,000 base pairs of DNA. As a comparison, humans have about 3 billion base pairs of DNA, with about 20,000 human genes compared to the bacteria’s 485.
Dr. Venter states that such constructions of genomes could one day help to create biofuels. For instance, synthetically made organisms would be made to produce hydrogen while another organism could be made to absorb excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The research is not without its controversies. Some people say it is creation of artificial life. In a BBC interview, Hamilton Smith, the project lead, stated that they are not attempting to create artificial life, but to create synthetic life. He states, "We like to distinguish synthetic life from artificial life. It sets the stage for what we hope is going to be a new approach to engineering organisms." [Reuters, UK: “Man-Made Bacteria Could Produce Biofuels”] Whether one calls it artificially produced or synthetically produced, the prospect of engineering a non-natural life-form (that is, humans creating life) is very controversial and will, no doubt, generate much debate over the next few years with respect to its ethical impacts, along with its potential in many different fields.
The results of the JCVI team is found online in Science magazine (January 24, 2008) under the title “Complete Chemical Synthesis, Assembly, and Cloning of a Mycoplasma genitalium Genome”. The JCVI press release about its successful second step in creating synthetic life is found at: “Venter Institute Scientists Create First Synthetic Bacterial Genome.” According to the website of the J. Craig Venter Institute (http://www.JCVI.org), “The JCVI is a not-for-profit research institute dedicated to the advancement of the science of genomics; the understanding of its implications for society; and communication of those results to the scientific community, the public, and policymakers. Founded by J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., the JCVI is home to approximately 400 scientists and staff with expertise in human and evolutionary biology, genetics, bioinformatics/informatics, information technology, high-throughput DNA sequencing, genomic and environmental policy research, and public education in science and science policy.”
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