“Playing God” -Scientists in Final Stage of Creating Man-made Life

Dr Craig Venter, who has led the private sector effort to sequence the human genome, has been working for years to create a man-made organism. He says his company Synthetic Genomics Inc, has nearly completed the journey to create the world’s first free-living artificial organism. According to Venter, it will only be a few more weeks before manmade life is unveiled in his very own laboratory. “It will be one of the bright milestones in human history, changing our conceptual view of life.” Said Venter.

Others have a less “bright” view of Venter’s work—they say it could be potentially dangerous. It has been suggested that this type of technology could turn out to be the scary side of “playing God”, since it invariably suggests the chance that dangerous organisms could be inadvertently (or purposefully) unleashed on a world unprepared to deal with the consequences. Because there is no precedence, scientists don’t know for sure what kind of negative impact is possible.

While control measures have been suggested, such as using software to spot purchases of DNA sequences that could be used as weapons, there is no comprehensive regulation in the field of synthetic life. Watchdogs say we’re taking a big gamble that the science will stay a step ahead of nefarious uses.

Even if artificial biology could be kept under control and appropriately monitored—something many say is near impossible—activists and researchers are concerned that the technology may be exclusively locked up for commercial gain.

Synthetic Genomics Inc, has filed controversial patents on synthetic bugs that would make fuels such as ethanol or hydrogen, and likely make a lot of money for those involved, as well. It has also filed an international application at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) which names more than 100 countries where the institute may seek monopoly patents.

The J Craig Venter Institute's US patent application claims exclusive ownership of a set of essential genes and a synthetic "free-living organism that can grow and replicate" made using those particular genes.

In early June, the ETC Group, a watchdog organization based in Canada, which monitors developments in biotechnology, launched a campaign against Venter’s patent application. They called on patent offices to reject applications on life forms. ETC’s Jim Thomas says that Venter’s company is poised to become the “Microbesoft” of synthetic biology.

The company announced a deal June 13 with energy giant BPPLC to identify and modify naturally occurring microbes with the capability to 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.” The thing is, no one really thinks he’s joking.

Venter says he's been expecting attacks on his work. "Patents are a hot word, and people are afraid of synthetic organisms." He says this research is merely the "tip if the iceberg", and future possibilities include bugs that clean up pollution, or signal when they detect explosives.

Indeed, the technology may end up providing beneficial solutions to some of the planet's biggest problems, and Venter has won kudos for bringing together a panel of bioethicists, religious leaders, and biowarfare experts to study the issues. The consensus for that particular group was that the research shouldn't be stopped, but that synthetic organisms must be controlled and contained.

According to Venter, Environmental groups shouldn’t be fighting his work, but rather be “ecstatic about what we are doing, since we provide one of the clear alternatives to burning oil and coal.”

Very few would argue that there are no potential goods coming out of this type of work, but experts strongly caution that the potential negative consequences cannot be ignored.

“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.”

Posted by Rebecca Sato

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Comments

[RayCeeYa]

When it comes to trying understand life on it's most basic levels there are two approaches. One has been to take a very simple organism, i.e. E. coli, and start removing genes until it doesn't work any more. The other is to try and synthesize a life form out of all the genetic material available on the market place right now. In both cases you end up with an organism where you know exactly what each gene, and each corresponding protein do. The scientific value of this kind of research is immeasurable.

I'm just surprised that the reconstructive approach has succeeded before teh deconstructive approach.

[Dave K. Welch]

Since the invention of fire there have been special interest groups that spring to life out of the dusts of nothing decrying the latest new gadget of the gadget-makers. "How dare thee grind the sands to glass to pilfer the secrets of the stars.... how dare thee show me reality!" ... and in their second wind they seem to think it an obvious insult to suggest from such knowledge should anything be gained. What is profit? Profit is the bonus gained in the trading of values. Profit is what you willingly give to me for my giving to you the ability to make fire.... or the children you wish to raise.

I read Greg Bear's Eon recently. It reinforces in me the notion that though we are way too caught up in the day to day lethargy of existence and our place in it, dreamers still dream, and from whence new fields are plowed.

God is Carl Sagan on a good day. Man does not play "god". Man is "god". There is no possible debate you can have with me that would prove otherwise.

As to being able to create life, and in so doing make life less valuable in doing so...let me ask a simple question...regardless of what I did to create life...would you feel your life was any less valuable?

Regards
Dave

[Diane Guesman]

STOP PLAYING GOD! PONDER WHY YOU HAVE LIFE? GOD MADE YOU TO KNOW, LOVE AND SERVE HIM! LOOK AT THE SUN AND KNOW GOD MADE THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT. STOP "PLAYING GOD" BEFORE IT IS TOOOO LATE FOR YOU AND ALL OF US. BE RESPONSIBLE AND GET RID OF YOUR PRIDE! WORSE SIN THAT SEPARATES LIGHT FROM DARKNESS, GOOD FROM EVIL. DO NOT OPEN A CAN OF WORMS THAT CANNOT BE PUT BACK. PONDER WHAT YOU ARE DOING ON THIS EARTH. YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE AND WILL CAUSE OTHERS TO BURN WITH YOU. YOU WILL ANSWER FOR THIS EITHER ON THIS EARTH WHILE ALIVE OR LATER IN JUDGEMENT WITH ALMIGHTY GOD. YOU WILL ANSWER. YOU DO NOT DO A WRONG TO GAIN A GOOD, IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE THINKING. THERE IS ALWAYS TIME TO CHANGE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

I WILL PRAY FOR YOU AND YOUR SOUL.

[Laura]

This sounds like the start of a Michael Crichton novel.
"The bright and famous Dr.Craig Venter is producing man made microbes that clean up the enviroment. The world couldn't be a better place to live until a young farmer, Marissa Lanley, starts analyzing the soil of her farm that is adjacent to Venter's latest clean up effort.......This thrilling novel will have you swigging maalox because of the suspense......Marvelous and terrifying....."

[CHARLE]

REMEMBER IN THE GARDEN,THE TEMPTATION WAS THAT YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD.WE ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE AND THE LIKENESS,BUT AS THEY SAY WE ARE MORE UNLIKE GOD THAN LIKE HIM.LET YOUR MIND TRAVEL OFF THE EARTH TO THE STARS,THEN TRAVEL FURTHER TO ANOTHER GALAXY,THEN GO BEYOND TO THE FURTHEST REACHES.MAN CAN NOT EVEN STEP OFF THE EARTH WITHOUT ALL TYPES OF LIFE SUPPORT.NOW REALLY TAMPER AS THESE SCIENTIST WILL,IT IS ONLY FLIRTING.TAKE ANY OF THEM AND PUT THEM IN A HURRICANE ,CAN THEY STAND THIER GROUND OR DO THEY BLOW AWAY.PLACE THEM IN A FIRE DO THEY STAND UNSCATHED OR INCINERATE? AS I SAID MEN ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD,BUT THEY ARE NOT GOD.ONLY GOD IS GOD AND HE IS NOT MOCKED.HE IS MERCY BUT HE IS JUSTICE.HE HAS NO NEED OF MAN BUT MAN WOULD DISSAPPEAR IF GOD TURNED AWAY FOR JUST A SECOND.

[sadunkal]

I THINK IT IS REALly interesting that Richard Dawkins guesses in his book (The God Delusion) that 'scientists will maybe able to create life in labs in the next years' and here they are, although it took only months. I read that part of the book just today and couldn't help remember about this post...But I guess he was already a friend of Craig Venter and he knew a lot more than I knew so maybe it's really not that interesting. Hmm... Cool book anyway...

[Al Reimer]

So is this the claim, that Dr Craig Ventner has taken raw elements(hydrogen,carbon, etc...), and added electricity or energy to these elements and created life?
Or is it that by manipulating what has already been made by God that we are pretending to have "made" something.It seems that if life just happened, then re-creating it out of nothing should be childsplay then, right?

[Burnincoco]

STOP SHOUTING YOUR RELIGION AT EVERYONE

RELIGION HAS KILLED EVERYTHING IT HASN'T UNDERSTOOD THROUGHOUT THE AGES.

The church

"Sooo, The earth goes Around the sun then?"

Copernicus

"Yes"

the church

"You Will Die Now!"

YEAH ROCKNROLL, PRAISE JEBUS!