科學家已把無生命的化學物質轉化為有生命的有機體，這項實驗對生命的本質提出了意義深遠的問題。 美國基因組學先驅克萊格.凡特（Craig Venter）宣布，在他位於馬里蘭州和加州的實驗室，科研人員在其為期15年的研究項目中，已成功製造出全球首個“合成細胞”，一種稱為絲狀支原體的細菌。
http://www.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1013/3/0/0/101330041.html?coluid=7&kindid=0&docid=101330041&mdate=0521172545
新的生命由此誕生，這種新生的微生物能夠生長、繁殖，並產生一代又一代的人造生命。植入的DNA片段包含約850個基因，而人類的DNA圖譜上共有約20000個基因。 這個人造生命被戲稱為「人造兒」(synthia)，它是人類科學史上一個革命性的成果，為今後人造微生物的應用研究鋪平了道路。
http://www.nownews.com/2010/05/21/91-2605899.htm
身為人類而創造生命，實在令不少人側目，尤其是宗教界人士。加拿大的國際科技監察機構ETC批評科學妄圖扮演上帝，並警告說，合成細胞科技不足以解決我們的一切社會問題，反而會帶來令人更頭痛的新問題。http://www.takungpao.com/news/10/05/22/images_0702-1261367.htm
Scientists Create Synthetic Organism
The WallStreet Journal May 21, 2010
Heralding a potential new era in biology, scientists for the first time have created a synthetic cell, completely controlled by man-made genetic instructions, researchers at the private J. Craig Venter Institute announced Thursday. Created at a cost of $40 million, this experimental one-cell organism, which can reproduce, opens the way to the manipulation of life on a previously unattainable scale, several researchers and ethics experts said. Scientists have been altering DNA piecemeal for a generation, producing a menagerie of genetically engineered plants and animals. But the ability to craft an entire organism offers a new power over life, they said. For the first time, someone has generated an entire artificial cell with predetermined properties.Several companies are already seeking to take advantage of the new field, called synthetic biology, which combines chemistry, computer science, molecular biology, genetics and cell biology to breed industrial life forms that can secrete fuels, vaccines or other commercial products.
Scientists create synthetic cell
Cnet News May 20, 2010
The team of 25 researchers took Mycoplasma capricolum bacteria and completely rewrote its genetic code of more than 1 million base pairs of DNA. The data was sequenced as chemical DNA fragments and sewn together using yeast and E. coli bacteria.
The synthetic genome was transplanted into empty Mycoplasma mycoides bacteria, which were transformed into a new species. The creature's software-like name, JCVI-syn1.0, reflects its status as the first of its kind.
Although the cell is primitive and lacks its own membrane, the techniques developed to create it promise groundbreaking advances in gene engineering and the rise of designer genomes. The achievement also raises ethical questions, not only about the creation of artificial life but the legitimacy of patenting it.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20005533-1.html
Researchers Say They Created a ‘Synthetic Cell’
The New York Times, May 20, 2010
Synthetic Genomics has a contract from Exxon to generate biofuels from algae. Exxon is prepared to spend up to $600 million if all its milestones are met. Dr. Venter said he would try to build “an entire algae genome so we can vary the 50 to 60 different parameters for algae growth to make superproductive organisms.”
On his yacht trips round the world, Dr. Venter has analyzed the DNA of the many microbes in seawater and now has a library of about 40 million genes, mostly from algae. These genes will be a resource to make captive algae produce useful chemicals, he said.
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