Lab LIFE

A team of scientists in the United States, including three researchers of Indian origin, has created life in the laboratory. In a profound — and some would say provocative — work, the 24-member team at the privately held J Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) has created bacterial cells completely controlled by genes manufactured in the lab. The cells can multiply.

The construction of the first selfreplicating bacterial cells opens the way for making and manipulating life on a previously unattainable scale, calling into question some of the very basis of creation. Previously, scientists have manipulated DNA piecemeal to produce genetically engineered plants and animals. But the ability to artificially design an entire genome — the ‘book of life’ that controls an organism’s functions — puts a different spin on the meaning of terms such as creation, evolution and life.

JCVI, a not-for-profit genomic research organisation based in Rockville outside Washington DC and in San Diego, California, did not say when exactly its team synthesised the 1.08 million base pair chromosomes of a modified Mycoplasma mycoides, a parasite bacteria that lives in cattle and goats. But it said the synthetic cell, called Mycoplasma mycoides JCVIsyn1.0, “is the proof of principle that genomes can be designed in the computer, chemically made in the laboratory and transplanted into a recipient cell to produce a new selfreplicating cell controlled only by the synthetic genome”. The most remarkable thing about the synthetic cell, a scientist explained, is that its “genome was brought to life through chemical synthesis, without using pieces of natural DNA”.

The implications of the breakthrough were not lost on institute founder J Craig Venter, the biologist-entrepreneur most famous for his role in sequencing one of the first human genomes. “We’ve been consumed by this research, but we have also been focused on addressing the societal implications of what we believe will be one of the most powerful technologies and industrial drivers for societal good. We look forward to continued dialogue about the important applications of this work to ensure that it is used for the benefit of all,” he said. The 24-member team includes three scientists of Indian origin — Sanjay Vashee, Radha Krishnakumar and Prashanth P Parmar.

The first synthetic cell did not come cheap or easy. The process of constructing and booting up the cell took nearly 15 years and cost upwards of $30 million, JCVI said. Man MAKES LIFE US geneticist Craig Venter and team create life form powered by manmade genes — a bacteria whose entire genome was made in the lab from 4 bottles of chemicals. It’s being dubbed one of the most important scientific achievements in history.


What It Promises

‘Designed’ algae that can eat up CO2 , bacteria to make bio-fuels and clean up toxic waste, new vaccines & foods.


The Fears

Could create bio-weapons, escaped artificial bugs could wreak havoc, man could ‘play God’ 3 Indians in the team: Sanjay Vashee, Radha Krishnakumar & Prashanth P Parmar Life in lab: Turning point in man-nature relationship.

Washington: Ethicists called the life in the laboratory breakthrough a “turning point in the relationship between man and nature” when humankind had generated life from scratch in a lab with the ability to pre-determine its properties. But J Craig Venter Institute scientists were careful to point out the positives in the breakthrough, maintaining it would “undoubtedly” lead to the development of many important applications and products including biofuels, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, clean water and food products. Institute founder J Craig Venter said he and the team at JCVI continue to work with bioethicists, outside policy groups, legislative members and staff, and the public to encourage discussion and understanding about the societal implications of their work and the field of synthetic genomics generally.