I cannot fathom why society is not in complete and utter chaos right now. No reports of riots in cities. And no one has called Arnold from his gubernatorial duties to save us from the machines.
Breathe.
OK.
Before I safely enclose myself in a panic room, let me retell the event. It has me ready to form a resistance. Last week's Science Magazine manifested something quite phenomenal. J. Craig Venter and a team at the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Md., and San Diego, Calif., have accomplished what science fiction only dreams of achieving.
They gave life to an organism that was no longer functional.
The team began with an idea: build and encode an entire genome from diddly-squat, and use it to make synthetic life. After spending $40 million, fiction became reality and a dream came to fruition.
In theory, what the scientists did is straightforward. A genome is encoded by DNA made up millions of base pairs in patterns of adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine. The team programmed a complete genome making sure every piece of the millions of base pairs was situated in the correct position. Even misplacing one of these bases results in faulty DNA.
After cloning the DNA, an empty yeast cell deprived of DNA in the nucleus was assigned as the lucky recipient of the synthetic chromosomes. Finally, Mother Nature as she intended (or didn't) allowed the cell to carry out its biological functions. The cell then began replicating and creating new copies of itself.
Combining genetic engineering, computer engineering, biology and industrious hours of work gave birth to the synthetic cell and along with that, boundless possibilities and questions for the technology.
The original intent was to create synthetic-based algae biofuels. However, the possibilities for disease and cures rapidly come into play. The technology would advance genetic engineering to an entire new level. Organs such as the lung and heart could be created and replaced in patients. Laboratory-grown cures would be standard throughout the world.
Unfortunately, with great power comes great responsibility.
Already, regulations are underway for the technology. There aren't any yet for something that comes this close to artificial life. The line must be drawn between what is considered creating life and what is creating an essential part of life. So far, the Vatican has called it important research
but made sure to remind everyone the scientists created a motor inside the cell - not life.
The team did not create artificial life, but they are pretty darn close. Even though the cytoplasm of the cell was not created in the lab, the way the cell functions was entirely man-made. If the team is capable of creating yeast DNA and manipulating it in any manner, there is nothing preventing them from creating any other creature's DNA.
The technology could create deadly pathogens for use in biological warfare. Anyone with access to the technology could create new life forms never seen in any lab, such as microorganism with the ability to reproduce and possibly reproduce uncontrollably.
As luck would have it, the researchers hold a monopoly on this new technology. The number of patents applied for the new scientific discovery makes it virtually inaccessible for the rest of the known world. And although this prevents accessibility by mad scientists, it does not allow other researchers to expand on the methods.
As a young and aspiring biomolecular engineer myself, this technology both excites and alerts. I would never take part in the artificial creation of life, but I cannot ignore its benefits.
For now, this discovery can sit idly by while scientists continue their research. It's only a matter of time until the potential of these synthetic cells is a reality.
Luis Delgadillo is a sophomore studying chemical engineering and Thursday columnist for The Post. If you think we are plugged into the Matrix, send him an e-mail at ld199907@ohiou.edu 4
Opinion
Luis Delgadillo
