And Then There Was Life!

Just over a year ago Craig Venter and his team created the first form of synthetic life. The team's fifteen year lead-up began with the sequencing of various organism's genomes-- most pertinently, the smallest genomes. By looking at small genomes the Venter group began to understand exactly what genes were necessary to sustain life. The group then produced and linked code for each essential gene creating a 1.08 megabase chromosome. The synthesized code was created in a computer, inserted into a bacterial cell and allowed to replicate. The newly formed replicating cell produced an entirely new set of proteins and eventually became an novel species.

So what does this mean for science?

Synthetic life-- to me--opens an almost limitless set of doors. Synthetic life can benefit not only humanity but also the rest of the animal kingdom by producing bacteria geared to help decrease carbon dioxide emissions, produce biofuels and create vaccines. Organisms can be created for particular niches with extreme specificity and efficiency. Synthetic life and medicine may trim off the scraps of organisms we see potential for using but aren't energetically suitable for use.

Philosophically perhaps Dr. Venter said what the change in species marks best, "When we look at life forms we see them as fixed entities but this shows, in fact, how dynamic they are. That they change from second to second. And that life is basically the result of an information process. Our genetic code is our software." I'm surprised I haven't heard of a new blockbuster coming out with a transforming lead morphing into whatever new life form fits best.

Of course the Venter group has a series of critics. They receive accusations of Venter playing god to concerns about potential risk of biological warfare. This leads me to ask the question: Where do you see synthetic life going in the next five, ten or 100 years? We discovered genes and genetics in the 1800's and in less than 200 years we have not only mapped out the entire human genome but we have created life. My guess may be as wild as proposing we could transform one organism into and an entirely new species to Gregor Mendel. I believe synthetic life will branch into multicellular organisms. Specialization of cells will allow us vast increases in medicine and treatment of diseases. Specialized genomes of humans, though very far off, may allow us to slow aging and more importantly make less of a footprint on our home--the Earth.

Here's to life only limited by imagination!

Gibson et al."Creation of a Bacterial Cell Controlled by a Chemically Synthesized Genome." Nature 329, 52-54.