Latest news with #syntheticDNA
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Playing God are Building Human DNA From the Ground Up
Biological science has made such astonishing leaps in the last few decades, such as precise gene editing, that scientists are now tackling the next logical — yet inherently controversial — step: fabricating human DNA from the ground up. Details are a bit vague, but a team of scientists in the United Kingdom have embarked on a new project to construct what they describe in a statement as the "first synthetic human chromosome." The scientists hope that the five-year Synthetic Human Genome project will result in better understanding of the essential building blocks that make human life possible and find clues to cure diseases and debilitating genetic conditions — so it's not like they are trying to make life from nothing like God, a well-used plot line in lots of science fiction movies. "The ability to synthesize large genomes, including genomes for human cells, may transform our understanding of genome biology and profoundly alter the horizons of biotechnology and medicine," said Jason Chin, a biology professor at Oxford University and one of the project leads. The medical non-profit, Wellcome Trust, is kicking in an initial $13.7 million for the project, which builds on the successfully completed project to map the entire human genome, which Wellcome also funded, according to the BBC. Making synthetic genomes isn't an entirely novel endeavor. Back in 2010, scientists managed to make from scratch the whole genome of a simple bacterium, and then plugged its genetic material inside an empty cell of another bacterium, making something entirely new that they cleverly dubbed Synthia. Scientists have also synthesized viral and yeast cells in other research. But a human genome is an entirely different proposition. For one thing, it involves a vastly more complex organism than some bacteria. And two, ethical concerns abound. Any whiff of messing around with human DNA has the stink of designer babies and eugenics. Because of these concerns, the project has a social research component. "Over the next five years, the team will undertake a transdisciplinary and transcultural investigation into the socio-ethical, economic, and policy implications of synthesising human genomes," the statement on the research reads. That sentence does feel a bit vague — so we'll be closely watching this project to see how it plays out in more concrete terms. At the end of the five years, the project leaders hope they'll have a finished human chromosome. That will be a huge step for biological progress — but there will no doubt be many ethical questions to unpack. Starting with: what's the meaning of life, if we can make it ourselves? More on DNA: You Can Now Buy a Sample of Ozzy Osbourne's DNA in Twelve Easy Payments
The Independent
2 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
Scientists aim to build full synthetic human chromosome with £10m
A controversial project to create the building blocks of human life, specifically synthetic human DNA, has commenced with an initial £10m grant from the Wellcome Trust. Scientists aim to build a full synthetic human chromosome within five to ten years, with the potential to transform understanding of human health and develop treatments for incurable diseases. The project, led by Professor Jason Chin, will allow researchers to create parts of DNA to study how genes regulate bodies, with all work confined to test tubes and petri dishes. Critics, including Professor Bill Earnshaw, fear the research could lead to enhanced humans or biological weapons, despite assurances that no synthetic life will be created. A dedicated social science project, led by Professor Joy Zhang, will run concurrently to gather public and expert views on the technology and address potential concerns.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Human genetic code to be built from scratch
The human genetic code will be built from scratch by British scientists in a controversial new research project. The £10 million scheme to synthesise DNA is being funded by the Wellcome Trust and involves scientists from universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College. Since the human genome was decoded at the start of the century, researchers have questioned whether it might be possible to use the blueprint to create genes and chromosomes artificially. In the five year project, the team hopes to create a fully synthetic human chromosome - making up about 2 per cent of human DNA - as a proof of concept. Michael Dunn, director of discovery research at Wellcome, said: ' Our DNA determines who we are and how our bodies work. 'Through creating the necessary tools and methods to synthesise a human genome we will answer questions about our health and disease that we cannot even anticipate yet, in turn transforming our understanding of life and wellbeing.' Researchers say synthetic genomes could help create new cell-based therapies or engineer plant species with new properties, such as being able to withstand pests and warming climates. Synthetic genomes have already been developed for small organisms such as the sexually transmitted bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium and But the human genome is much more complicated. However, experts said it is crucial to make sure the technology is not abused and that regulations are put in place. 'You can only truly understand something if you can build it from scratch,' said Prof Robin Lovell-Badge, group leader of the Francis Crick Institute in London. 'It is critical when developing new technology to understand not just issues of potential utility, but also those concerned with safety and risk. 'If these were to ever be used in humans, it would be important to design them carefully so that they can't lead to tumours or produce novel infectious particles. 'Indeed, I would urge incorporating an inducible genetic kill switch to eliminate them from any location in the body or at least to make them easy for the immune system to find and destroy.' The Wellcome Trust said it was commissioning a separate project to look into the ethics and public opinion on the research. Dr Pat Thomas, director of the campaign group Beyond GM, told the BBC: 'We like to think that all scientists are there to do good, but the science can be repurposed to do harm and for warfare'.
