Scientists create first synthetic living cell, ethics questioned

In a major scientific advance, researchers in Maryland have created what they are calling the first synthetic cell.  Scientists first described the new synthetic species of bacterium in the journal Science, yesterday.  Kellia Ramares has more:

Researchers at the J. Craig Venter Institute designed and created an artificial strand of bacterial DNA inside a yeast chromosome and then transplanted it into a different, though related, species of bacterium.  Scientists then used a patented process to “boot it up,” or make it come alive.

The result is not “life from scratch,” but it is a step toward being able to reprogram bacteria to produce things such as new fuels, or better ways to clean polluted water.  But synthetic biology could also be used to produce dangerous microbes.  Jesse Reynolds is a policy analyst for the Center for Genetics and Society in Berkeley, California.

“There are concerns about environmental release, about health and human safety.  These have not been adequately addressed from a regulatory perspective.  They're certainly promising a lot of very positive potential developments from this: A green technology and...