We're a step closer to creating a synthetic form of life

William Atkins
Saturday, 30 June 2007 01:41

Science - Biology

Genomics is the field of science that involves the entire genome of an organism; that is, the hereditary information stored inside DNA—deoxyribonucleic acid.

Venter’s goal in transplantation of the genome from one species of bacteria into another bacterial species is to help take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, with the eventual hope of helping clean up the atmosphere and reducing the United States’ dependency on petroleum products.

Many scientists are calling Venter’s accomplishment a very important step for eventually creating the first synthetic life form.

As a further step, Venter is also working toward synthesizing the entire genome—which consists of a length of 580,000 DNA units--of the parasitic bacterium called Mycoplasma genitalium. It is considered the smallest free-living bacterium (that is, able to live outside a host).

If Venter is able to produce the first synthetic life form out of the Mycoplasma bacterium, his research team will validate human ability to control the mechanism of a living organism through synthetic biology, a more difficult form of genetic engineering, which does not just move genes into bacteria but actually controls them for a specific purpose.

Venter’s activities would create an identical organism with one that is found naturally in nature. This organism would not present any type of hazardous condition to humanity or life in general. However, the research and development of organisms within synthetic biology do have the possibility of creating synthetically produced living organisms that could pose threats to humanity if they should fall into the possession of people with devious intent, such as groups of terrorists or unfriendly countries.

On the other hand, work in synthetic biology has the enormous positive potential for, among other things, producing synthetic fuels and energy sources, enhancing human life, improving human health, improving chemicals, and a vast host of other possibilities. In fact, synthetic fuels are forecaste to be produced within ten years. Already, minute amounts are being produced from bacteria in a laboratory in California.

The J. Craig Venter Institute is located in Rockville, Maryland. Its website is: http://www.jcvi.org/..