World is changing so fast that it is becoming very difficult to get in pace with it.
Now people just don't see things as they are,but as they might be.Have you heard of something called as 'Synthetic Genomics',if not then please do search for it.Its science with a little twist in it.
A rebel scientist Dr. Craig Vecter who created a storm over a decade ago by first trying to patent a human gene (but failed as it was not allowed by law),and then decoding the entire human genome, in competition with the publicily funded organizations doing the same.Now Dr. Craig and colleagues have made scientific history by chemically synthesizing the total genetic material ( or genome)of a microbe called M.mycoides, and introduced it into the cell of another microbe, M.capricolum in a manner that tha transplanted synthetic genome of mycoides is given total and sole control of the host capricolum cell.
Now the question in your mind will be, what does this actually mean? Did they create artificial life?
Well, they synthesized the genome of mycoides and transplanted it into the living cell of capricolum in a manner that the genome of the latter was disabled. Some have called it 'rebooting' the genetic software of one organism into another organism, akin to talking a computer operating the Microsoft software and rebooting it with Linux.
What bodes for the future?
If one can synthesize genomics in the lab, introduce them into recipient cells and "express" their protein products, why not produce biofuels, maybe ask microbes to produce food by photosynthesis or whatever?
Here comes the twist, some worry whether such chemical creations of genome would lead to Frankensteinism- wherein a person creates a destructive agency that goes out of control, ruining the person himself.well right now, we are shooting in the dark as to what the long term benefits and long term risks will be...
Lastly to give it a touch of humour i would say it is quite possible that some day Dr Craig Vecter might become the "Microsoft of synthetic biology".
Now people just don't see things as they are,but as they might be.Have you heard of something called as 'Synthetic Genomics',if not then please do search for it.Its science with a little twist in it.
A rebel scientist Dr. Craig Vecter who created a storm over a decade ago by first trying to patent a human gene (but failed as it was not allowed by law),and then decoding the entire human genome, in competition with the publicily funded organizations doing the same.Now Dr. Craig and colleagues have made scientific history by chemically synthesizing the total genetic material ( or genome)of a microbe called M.mycoides, and introduced it into the cell of another microbe, M.capricolum in a manner that tha transplanted synthetic genome of mycoides is given total and sole control of the host capricolum cell.
Now the question in your mind will be, what does this actually mean? Did they create artificial life?
Well, they synthesized the genome of mycoides and transplanted it into the living cell of capricolum in a manner that the genome of the latter was disabled. Some have called it 'rebooting' the genetic software of one organism into another organism, akin to talking a computer operating the Microsoft software and rebooting it with Linux.
What bodes for the future?
If one can synthesize genomics in the lab, introduce them into recipient cells and "express" their protein products, why not produce biofuels, maybe ask microbes to produce food by photosynthesis or whatever?
Here comes the twist, some worry whether such chemical creations of genome would lead to Frankensteinism- wherein a person creates a destructive agency that goes out of control, ruining the person himself.well right now, we are shooting in the dark as to what the long term benefits and long term risks will be...
Lastly to give it a touch of humour i would say it is quite possible that some day Dr Craig Vecter might become the "Microsoft of synthetic biology".
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