Life in the Fast Lane

Craig Venter says success is near, within weeks or months of creating the world’s first free-living artificial organism in his laboratory. “It will be one of the bright milestones in human history, changing our conceptual view of life.” Said Venter. Photo Garick Jones

Venter’s company, Synthetic Genomics Inc., has filed controversial patents on synthetic bugs, which could make fuels such as ethanol or hydrogen, providing lucrative opportunities. The company announced a deal June 13 with energy giant BPPLC to find and modify naturally occurring microbes that can turn coal or oil below the earth’s surface into cleaner fuel. Microorganisms “have the potential to provide all the transportation fuel we need in the U.S.,” says Venter. “I joke that I’m going from the gene king to the oil king.”

But Vector has numerous competitors in the field of synthetic biology. Amyris Biotechnologies combines suites of genes with yeast or bacteria to make an antimalaria drug and innovative biofuels. Codon Devices Inc. in Cambridge, Mass., has emerged to sell synthetic strands of DNA among other products. EraGen Biosciences in Madison, Wis., creates DNA from basic building blocks not found in nature, opening the door further to new forms of life, reports Business Newsweek.

This research is merely the tip if the iceberg. Future possibilities include bugs that clean up pollution or flash when they detect explosives. Venter foresees creating organisms worth billions or trillions of dollars.

Magnus and others have been working with DNA foundries, suggesting measures to reduce the chances of dangerous organisms being unleashed, purposely or inadvertently. One possible control method would use software to spot purchases of DNA sequences that could be used as weapons. Photo Digikuva

Another is to have “biosafety” officials oversee research to ensure that pathogens created in labs are kept under control. Such measures are still voluntary. “We’ve essentially made a gamble that the science will keep us one step ahead of any nefarious uses,” Magnus says.

Even if synthetic biology can be controlled and monitored, some scientists and activists worry that it could be locked up for commercial gain. In early June, the ETC Group, a watchdog organization based in Canada, launched a campaign against Venter’s patent application. His synthetic organism will be a much grander deal than Dolly, the cloned sheep, predicts ETC’s Jim Thomas. He charges that Venter’s company aims to be the “Microbesoft” of synthetic biology.

The infamous sheep Dolly, now deceased, presently spins on a rotating platform in the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Photo Subblue

Venter isn’t surprised by the attacks on his work. “Patents are a hot word, and people are afraid of synthetic organisms.” he said. He has won kudos for convening panels of bioethicists, religious leaders, and biowarfare experts to study the issues. They’ve concluded the research shouldn’t be stopped — though synthetic organisms must be controlled and contained. Environmental groups should be “ecstatic about what we are doing, since we provide one of the clear alternatives to burning oil and coal.” Venter says.

“While creating new life may not be playing God,” says Arthur L. Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, “it has revolutionary implications for how we see ourselves. When we can synthesize life, it makes the notion of a living being less special.” And there’s a perception that synthetic biologists may be “manipulating nature without knowing where they are going.” he says. “There are arrogant scientists, and our friend Venter may be one of them.”

I couldn’t begin to count the times that I’ve stated I wish I had a clone to help me with my work. Shudder. Never again will I be able to cite one of my favorite sayings without reflecting on this. Damn!

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Animation
Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a technique for cloning. The nucleus is removed from a healthy egg. This egg becomes the host for a nucleus that is transplanted from another cell, such as a skin cell. The resulting embryo can be used to generate embryonic stem cells with a genetic match to the nucleus donor (therapeutic cloning), or can be implanted into a surrogate mother to create a cloned individual, such as Dolly the sheep (reproductive cloning).

Cloning — The Controversy

Iranian Scientists Clone Second Sheep
Dr. Mohammed Hossein Nasr e Isfahani, head of the Royan Research Institute in Isfahan, said the animal, dubbed Royana, is recovering in an incubator because he was and having difficulty breathing. “Its condition is stable now.”

“Royana was fed milk twice — once by a tube in its stomach and the second time, naturally through its mouth.” said the scientist.

Future experiments in genetics and stem cell research — using animal cells — are planned. Scientists say cloning sheep and other animals could lead to advances in medical research, including using cloned animals to produce human antibodies against diseases.

First Cloned Female Dog — Bona
Korean Scientist who had previously created a male cloned dog has created 3 cloned female dogs for the first time. This reveals that cloned animals can produce their offspring among themselves.

First Cloned Mule
Idaho Gem is the first animal cloned from the horse family born on May 4th, 2003. He resulted from the collaboration of Dr. Gordon Woods and Dr. Dirk Vanderwall of the Northwest Equine Reproduction Laboratory at the University of Idaho and Dr. Ken White of Utah State University.

US Paranoia — Cloning Meat

Human Cloning — Why the Fuss?
Professor Lee Silver of Princeton University explains why human cloning is nothing to worry about. (!!!???)

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