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Scientists in the US Create Synthetic Life

Forum Index > General Forum
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Destro
Profile Joined September 2009
Netherlands1206 Posts
May 21 2010 16:52 GMT
#1
Pretty cool stuff. Im highly impressed.

+ Show Spoiler +
Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first living cell to be controlled entirely by synthetic DNA.

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.

Some also suggest that the potential benefits of the technology have been over-stated.

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

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


Craig Venter defends the synthetic living cell
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.

Dr Venter likened the advance to making new software for the cell.

The researchers copied an existing bacterial genome. They sequenced its genetic code and then used "synthesis machines" to chemically construct a copy.

HOW A SYNTHETIC CELL
WAS CREATED

The scientists "decoded" the chromosome of an existing bacterial cell - using a computer to read each of the letters of genetic code.
BACK1 of 3NEXT
Dr Venter told BBC News: "We've now been able to take our synthetic chromosome and transplant it into a recipient cell - a different organism.

"As soon as this new software goes into the cell, the cell reads [it] and converts into the species specified in that genetic code."

The new bacteria replicated over a billion times, producing copies that contained and were controlled by the constructed, synthetic DNA.

"This is the first time any synthetic DNA has been in complete control of a cell," said Dr Venter.

'New industrial revolution'
Dr Venter and his colleagues hope eventually to design and build new bacteria that will perform useful functions.

"I think they're going to potentially create a new industrial revolution," he said.

"If we can really get cells to do the production that we want, they could help wean us off oil and reverse some of the damage to the environment by capturing carbon dioxide."

WATTS WHAT...

Continue reading the main story
Even some scientists worry we lack the means to weigh up the risks such novel organisms might represent, once set loose

Susan Watts
BBC Newsnight science editor
Read Susan Watts's thoughts
Analysis from around the world
Send us your comments
Dr Venter and his colleagues are already collaborating with pharmaceutical and fuel companies to design and develop chromosomes for bacteria that would produce useful fuels and new vaccines.

But critics say that the potential benefits of synthetic organisms have been overstated.

Dr Helen Wallace from Genewatch UK, an organisation that monitors developments in genetic technologies, told BBC News that synthetic bacteria could be dangerous.

"If you release new organisms into the environment, you can do more harm than good," she said.

"By releasing them into areas of pollution, [with the aim of cleaning it up], you're actually releasing a new kind of pollution.

"We don't know how these organisms will behave in the environment."

Continue reading the main story
The risks are unparalleled, we need safety evaluation for this kind of radical research and protections from military or terrorist misuse

Julian Savulescu
Oxford University ethics professor
Profile: Craig Venter
Q&A: The meaning of synthetic life
Ethics concern over synthetic cell
Dr Wallace accused Dr Venter of playing down the potential drawbacks.

"He isn't God," she said, "he's actually being very human; trying to get money invested in his technology and avoid regulation that would restrict its use."

But Dr Venter said that he was "driving the discussions" about the regulations governing this relatively new scientific field and about the ethical implications of the work.

He said: "In 2003, when we made the first synthetic virus, it underwent an extensive ethical review that went all the way up to the level of the White House.

"And there have been extensive reviews including from the National Academy of Sciences, which has done a comprehensive report on this new field.

"We think these are important issues and we urge continued discussion that we want to take part in."

Ethical discussions
Dr Gos Micklem, a geneticist from the University of Cambridge, said that the advance was "undoubtedly a landmark" study.

But, he said, "there is already a wealth of simple, cheap, powerful and mature techniques for genetically engineering a range of organisms. Therefore, for the time being, this approach is unlikely to supplant existing methods for genetic engineering".

The ethical discussions surrounding the creation of synthetic or artificial life are set to continue.

Professor Julian Savulescu, from the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford, said the potential of this science was "in the far future, but real and significant".

"But the risks are also unparalleled," he continued. "We need new standards of safety evaluation for this kind of radical research and protections from military or terrorist misuse and abuse.

"These could be used in the future to make the most powerful bioweapons imaginable. The challenge is to eat the fruit without the worm."

The advance did not pose a danger in the form of bio-terrorism, Dr Venter said.

"That was reviewed extensively in the US in a report from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Washington defence think tank, indicating that there were very small new dangers from this.

"Most people are in agreement that there is a slight increase in the potential for harm. But there's an exponential increase in the potential benefit to society," he told BBC's Newsnight.

"The flu vaccine you'll get next year could be developed by these processes," he added.
bring back weapon of choice for hots!
ohIdentity
Profile Joined March 2010
United States52 Posts
May 21 2010 16:59 GMT
#2
Ah shit, 28 Days Later material right here. Pretty cool still, but I don't really feel like fighting off raging zombies anytime soon.
samachking
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Bahrain4949 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-05-21 17:04:59
May 21 2010 17:00 GMT
#3
Press Conference Video (Click Click)


Original TED talk from 2008:


Fascinating Stuff I might say. I was planning to work on this idea during my grad research, but if you can think of it, they are probably already working on it. The possibilities and implications are endless if we can understand and manipulate the genome of the organism for our own biological needs or our own chemical industrial needs.


Reddit IAMA for one of the scientists in the project.

Research Paper(PDF)
"And then Earthlings discovered tools. Suddenly agreeing with friends could be a form of suicide or worse. But agreements went on, not for the sake of common sense, or decency, or self preservation, but for friendliness."
StayFrosty
Profile Joined February 2010
Canada743 Posts
May 21 2010 17:03 GMT
#4
1 step closer to the apocalypse !
icystorage
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Jollibee19346 Posts
May 21 2010 17:05 GMT
#5
man playing God. i hope man doesnt abuse this if it gets more advanced
LiquidDota StaffAre you ready for a Miracle-? We are! The International 2017 Champions!
Badjas
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
Netherlands2038 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-05-21 17:09:30
May 21 2010 17:07 GMT
#6
One step closer to viable bio fuel

Edit:
On May 22 2010 02:05 icystorage wrote:
man playing God. i hope man doesnt abuse this if it gets more advanced

I don't know man, Twelve monkeys was a pretty cool movie.
I <3 the internet, I <3 you
reincremate
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
China2213 Posts
May 21 2010 17:11 GMT
#7
Mass hydras.
flextra
Profile Joined April 2010
United States22 Posts
May 21 2010 17:12 GMT
#8
That Craig Venter guy was the first to sequence the human genome with Francis Collins, who gave my high school commencement ceremony speech. It's scary how many higher education degrees these guys have.

The actual discovery seems to be just the first step though. I'm sure the breakthrough will be another "stepping stone" when we look back to the past...

p.s. inc religious debate?! :o
Maggeus
Profile Joined April 2010
France277 Posts
May 21 2010 17:13 GMT
#9
Okay.
Next thing to do in my life : create aa alived baneling. That doesn't explode. Or puke. Or does not release anything green.

And my life would be complete.

By the way, this is an absolute advance in scientific studies and biology. Impressive.
Destro
Profile Joined September 2009
Netherlands1206 Posts
May 21 2010 17:16 GMT
#10
you guys talk about the zombie apocolypse like its a bad thing. As long as they are the slow moving dawn of the dead zombies, im all for it. The fast moving 28 days later zombies can fuck right off.
bring back weapon of choice for hots!
Corrupt
Profile Joined August 2009
Bulgaria1312 Posts
May 21 2010 17:18 GMT
#11
nooo
Just a guy trying to enjoy living in the worst timeline and failing miserably since 1990.
Keniji
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
Netherlands2569 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-05-21 17:20:52
May 21 2010 17:19 GMT
#12
it's pretty cool stuff but not that big of a deal imo. (don't get me wrong, it's huge and pretty impressive but not as big of a milestone as Venter like to present it.)

except of the lenght of the genome (1 million? ololol) it was only 2 steps which have been done before combined. Anyway pretty cool.
Anyway, always when I hear/see/read about stuff like that it totally amaze me. I'm one of these persons that actually don't really think about what could go wrong or how it could be abused but about all the possibilites which we have with this technic (of course way advanced) in like 10 or 20 years. It's unbelievable what the human mind can produce sometimes.
gogogadgetflow
Profile Joined March 2010
United States2583 Posts
May 21 2010 17:24 GMT
#13
Just don't let blizzard get ahold of this.
sixghost
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
United States2096 Posts
May 21 2010 17:39 GMT
#14
On May 22 2010 02:24 gogogadgetflow wrote:
Just don't let blizzard get ahold of this.

How else will they finally film their Starcraft movie? They have to grow actual zerg.
mG.sixghost @ iCCup || One ling, two ling, three ling, four... Camp four gas, then ultra-whore . -Saracen
Destro
Profile Joined September 2009
Netherlands1206 Posts
May 21 2010 17:43 GMT
#15
we just need to make contact with a highly advanced alien race and starcraft will be real. shotgun being a vulture ;o
bring back weapon of choice for hots!
buhhy
Profile Joined October 2009
United States1113 Posts
May 21 2010 17:43 GMT
#16
On May 22 2010 02:39 sixghost wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 22 2010 02:24 gogogadgetflow wrote:
Just don't let blizzard get ahold of this.

How else will they finally film their Starcraft movie? They have to grow actual zerg.


But if you get a synthetic body part, Blizzard will claim ownership of it. :/
ohIdentity
Profile Joined March 2010
United States52 Posts
May 21 2010 17:49 GMT
#17
This thread is full of luls now. But in all seriousness, I really hope they stick to creating things that can help. Iron Man suit otw. I can only see this turning bad...we're fine now right? We don't need synthetic fuel. It would be nice, but it's not necessary. Not yet anyways. Man is a vile creature, we're fucked.

User was warned for this post
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
May 21 2010 17:49 GMT
#18
wow this is incredible, and kinda scary o_O
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
Chriamon
Profile Joined April 2010
United States886 Posts
May 21 2010 17:50 GMT
#19
I recall seeing some guy talking about this (discovery channel) a while back. He was specifically talking about the absorbing of greenhouse gasses, and that if such a bacteria were to be created, it would solve most of the current global warming problems. A bacteria could be created, and released into the ocean that would absorb excess CO2, and once absorbed, the bacteria would sink to the bottom of the ocean, ridding our atmosphere of a lot of it. Pretty neat stuff.
http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/profile/274906/1/Blaze/
L
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
Canada4732 Posts
May 21 2010 17:52 GMT
#20
On May 22 2010 02:50 Chriamon wrote:
I recall seeing some guy talking about this (discovery channel) a while back. He was specifically talking about the absorbing of greenhouse gasses, and that if such a bacteria were to be created, it would solve most of the current global warming problems. A bacteria could be created, and released into the ocean that would absorb excess CO2, and once absorbed, the bacteria would sink to the bottom of the ocean, ridding our atmosphere of a lot of it. Pretty neat stuff.

Yeah, lets reinvent algae and then have it bloom everywhere.

That'll be useful.
The number you have dialed is out of porkchops.
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