'Artificial life' breakthrough announced by scientists

[CosmicSpork]

Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell.

The researchers constructed a bacterium's "genetic software" and transplanted it into a host cell.

The resulting microbe then looked and behaved like the species "dictated" by the synthetic DNA.

The advance, published in Science, has been hailed as a scientific landmark, but critics say there are dangers posed by synthetic organisms.

The researchers hope eventually to design bacterial cells that will produce medicines and fuels and even absorb greenhouse gases.

Craig Venter defends the synthetic living cell

The team was led by Dr Craig Venter of the J Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) in Maryland and California.

He and his colleagues had previously made a synthetic bacterial genome, and transplanted the genome of one bacterium into another.

Now, the scientists have put both methods together, to create what they call a "synthetic cell", although only its genome is truly synthetic.

Read the rest...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_and_environment/10132762.stm

 

[Aught3]

Fact!

http://forums.leagueofreason.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4362

 

[Case]

In his defense - I think australo should've posted it in 'News'. But still... Now we got 3 such threads. :mrgreen: