US team creates first ’synthetic life’
By Agence France-Presse
Thursday, May 20th, 2010 -- 2:30 pm
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US researchers have developed the first bacteria cell controlled by a synthetic genome, in a breakthrough which may pose philosophical and scientific questions about the bid to recreate life.
"This is the first synthetic cell that's been made," said lead researcher Craig Venter, as the discovery was unveiled.
"We call it synthetic because the cell is totally derived from a synthetic chromosome, made with four bottles of chemicals on a chemical synthesizer, starting with information in a computer."
The team said it now hopes to use the method it has developed "to probe the basic machinery of life and to engineer bacteria specially designed to solve environmental or energy problems."
The method could be used to design bacteria specifically to help produce biofuels or to clean up environmental hazards, said the study carried out by the J. Craig Venter Institute, and published in the journal Science.
http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0520/team-creates-synthetic-life/
By Agence France-Presse
Thursday, May 20th, 2010 -- 2:30 pm
Stumble This!242
Share 28
diggs
digg
US researchers have developed the first bacteria cell controlled by a synthetic genome, in a breakthrough which may pose philosophical and scientific questions about the bid to recreate life.
"This is the first synthetic cell that's been made," said lead researcher Craig Venter, as the discovery was unveiled.
"We call it synthetic because the cell is totally derived from a synthetic chromosome, made with four bottles of chemicals on a chemical synthesizer, starting with information in a computer."
The team said it now hopes to use the method it has developed "to probe the basic machinery of life and to engineer bacteria specially designed to solve environmental or energy problems."
The method could be used to design bacteria specifically to help produce biofuels or to clean up environmental hazards, said the study carried out by the J. Craig Venter Institute, and published in the journal Science.
http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0520/team-creates-synthetic-life/