Scientist to create new lifeform from artificial DNA

New York (NY) - Craig Venter, the U.S. scientist involved heavily in the effort to decipher the human genome, has made a startling announcement. He intends to create the first artificial lifeform made from man-made, or constructed DNA, made entirely from laboratory chemicals. Venter said, "...we are going from reading our genetic code to the ability to write it. That gives us the hypothetical ability to do things never contemplated before." Venter will announce the official results of his work at a currently undisclosed exact time, but sometime within the next few weeks.

Point Venter’s current creation is an artificial chromosome comprised of 381 genes and 580,000 base pairs. This places it close to the simplest bacteria which have about 600,000 base pairs. The human genome has about 25,000 genes and 3 billion base pairs.

The fact that this artificial chromosome is very close to bacteria is likely to be of great concern for many. Especially those who believe science is pushing too far too fast. We have seen how damaging some natural bacteria can be to flesh, killing people within hours or days of contact. And if we now consider a man made version, especialy one that will be the genome equivalent of some beta software, there are bound to be flaws, right ? Mistakes will be made. And at this level, how much damage could a genetic flaw cause mankind ? Or the world ?

In Canada right now, having introduced selective forms of genetically modified crops around the year 2000, there are no longer any fields, even those that were not seeded with genetically modified crops initially, which can be certified 100% organic. The artificial genome spread into neighboring fields through the normal course of life and plant production, even those separated by a barrier such as a road. This has become a matter of extreme concern for many farmers and activists in Canada and abroad.

Counterpoint An outspoken physicist, author and activist in India, Vandana Shiva, has taken her message to the world stage. And it’s one against genetic engineering in all forms. To back up her opinion, she also started the Navdanya seed farm in the Himalayan foothills to maintain the genetic integrity of various seed forms. It is a physical seed storehouse isolated several miles from other farming areas. It contains many different natural and traditional forms of rice, beans, peas and many other native and global vegetables.

She hopes to maintain seeds without genetic damage so that natural crops will continue. She is very outspoken about the health benefits and healing properties of natural foods, and the dangers of the artificial foods we are buying in our supermarkets today. She says we are losing more than we know, and it is a loss based on ignorance, complacency and a willingness to concede to the big business’ desire to make more money using genetically modified crops.

She has cited the damage done through one example of recent genetic engineering in her own country. A big seed company wanted to sell modified cotton seeds. They were supposed to be resistent to a particular insect which often damages cotton crops. Many farmers bought that seed because of its big advertising push and because it cost less to buy. Later that year the crop was seen with the same insect damaging the plants. The crop did not come in that year and many farmers lost their farms as a result. Many farmers even took to committing suicide in an effort to stave off the debt which remained on their family. By killing themselves, a loop-hole allowed the debt to be wiped clean and the remaining family coul start again. Shiva speaks passionately against the genetically modified seed industry and results like this.

Read more about this at The Guardian.

Author’s opinion If I consider the fact that these prior examples were only modifications to plants, and that we have seen several instances where genetically modified food either caused various problems or did not lived up to promise. And then if I consider the possible dangers which could arise from mankind creating new lifeforms... I feel I’m left with a no-brainer conclusion. I mean, we can’t even get medial drugs to work without a laundry list of possible side effects, often including significant damage to the liver. And now we’re going to start creating new life ? I don’t think even our best scientists are good enough at the fundamentals to even consider tackling a project like this. Certainly not yet, and likely not ever. In fact, I can see this particular endeavor ending very badly.

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