James Brody
May 20th, 2010, 05:51 PM
"Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell.
"The researchers constructed a bacterium's "genetic software" and transplanted it into a host cell.
"The resulting microbe then looked and behaved like the species "dictated" by the synthetic DNA.
"The advance, published in Science, has been hailed as a scientific landmark, but critics say there are dangers posed by synthetic organisms.
"Dr Craig Venter says yeast, chemicals, and computers were used by scientists.
"The researchers hope eventually to design bacterial cells that will produce medicines and fuels and even absorb greenhouse gases."
Http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10132762.stm
"The researchers constructed a bacterium's "genetic software" and transplanted it into a host cell.
"The resulting microbe then looked and behaved like the species "dictated" by the synthetic DNA.
"The advance, published in Science, has been hailed as a scientific landmark, but critics say there are dangers posed by synthetic organisms.
"Dr Craig Venter says yeast, chemicals, and computers were used by scientists.
"The researchers hope eventually to design bacterial cells that will produce medicines and fuels and even absorb greenhouse gases."
Http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10132762.stm