Creation of artificial life brought a step closer by DNA transplantCraig Venter, the controversial biologist who led the private effort to map the human genome, has moved closer to his goal of creating the first artificial life form by replacing the entire genetic code of one microbe with that of another.
The groundbreaking experiment has in effect turned a bacterium into a different species by substituting its DNA with that of a close relative. The success opens the way for doing the same thing with a genome that has been man-made from scratch, to create synthetic life.
Dr Venter has long been researching ways to make artificial organisms, with a view to creating new species of bacteria that produce environmentally friendly fuels such as hydrogen. This month he was said to have applied for a patent on a DNA sequence described as the “minimal genome” – the bare essential genes that can support life.
His team’s achievement takes him much closer to his goal, as the genome-swapping technique could be used to insert a DNA sequence that he has built into the shell of an existing bacterium. Whereas the cell’s membrane would be natural, its software – the genetic code containing the instructions for life – would be wholly artificial. “It’s like changing a Macintosh computer into a PC by inserting a new piece of software,” Dr Venter said.
The research could lead to new methods of genetic engineering in larger organisms, potentially including humans. The technique could allow scientists to create and insert artificial chromosomes carrying added genes into the genome, though many years of research would be required.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article2002547.ece
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