Scientists create first synthetic cell

Scientists in the United States have created the first living cell controlled by a genome made entirely in the laboratory.

The team, led by the American biologist Craig Venter, announced the achievement on 20 May in the journal Science.

What they did

The researchers used a computer to design the genetic code of a bacterium, based on an existing species. They then built the DNA from chemicals, piece by piece, and assembled it into a complete genome of more than a million letters.

They transplanted the synthetic genome into a cell of a different species of bacterium, from which the original DNA had been removed. The cell began to follow the instructions of the new genome and to divide, producing new cells controlled entirely by the man-made DNA.

To prove the genome was synthetic, the team added "watermarks" to the code, including the names of the scientists involved and famous quotations.

Why it matters

Venter described the result as the first synthetic cell. The work is seen as an important step in synthetic biology, a field that aims to design and build new biological systems.

Scientists hope that in the future, organisms could be designed to carry out useful tasks, such as producing biofuels, making medicines and vaccines, or cleaning up pollution.

The project took around 15 years and cost about $40 million.

Not creating life

Other scientists have pointed out that the team did not create life from scratch. They copied an existing genome and placed it in an existing cell. Some have questioned the description of the cell as synthetic.

But many agree it is a significant technical achievement.

Ethical concerns

The research has raised concerns about the risks of creating new organisms. Some campaigners fear that synthetic organisms could escape into the environment or be used to create biological weapons.

President Barack Obama has asked a commission to study the implications of the work. Venter has said that his team has considered the ethical issues carefully and has supported regulation of the field.

Who is Venter?

Venter is well known for his role in sequencing the human genome, when his company, Celera Genomics, raced the publicly funded Human Genome Project to read the code.