So what did The J. Craig Venter Institute do?
- Synthesized an exact replica of a string of DNA from Mycoplasma mycoides over 106 bases long and placed it within an empty cell membrane from a different species of the genus Mycoplasma [M. capricolum]. The cell functioned like a normal living organism. This is a significant achievement because long DNA molecules tend to break during manipulation. Previously a much smaller genome was built and implanted into a pre-existing cell membrane.
It has taken 10 years of Craig Venter’s effort to achieve this goal and it represents only a very small milestone in humankind’s future ability to create synthetic life. There are two main avenues to pursue from now on.
- Synthesized a cell membrane and cell contents, exclusive of the DNA polymer molecule, and repeat the experiment. This achievement will mean humankind can completely synthesize a living cell.
- Catalogue the DNA bases responsible for specific genetic traits in a specific species [this is currently an ongoing project at many research institute] and build an organism that has specific traits completely different from any other know form of life.
The aim is for scientists to be able to do these two activities routinely and at this stage humankind will have a marvellous control over prokaryotic living systems. Such knowledge will have vast potential for humanities colonization of our Solar System and beyond. I estimate it will take another 10 years to reach this goal.
Currently, science is taking a different approach to eukaryotic living systems. The approach is to catalogue the DNA bases responsible for specific genetic traits and alter a pre-existing germ cell [either the male or female gamete or both] to produce a zygote that is abnormal to the species in terms of its traits. This approach is moving along rapidly and has been achieved at a minor level e.g. photosynthetic hair. Success depends upon understanding [cataloguing] the base-pair to trait relationship in specific species; and, successfully inserting and/or removing base-pairs from gametes. The related investigation pertaining to somatic [body] cells also is progressing and can have far reaching effects on the health of individuals and the curing of disease.
The following is a direct link to the complete article published by Science magazine.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/rapidpdf/science.1190719v1.pdf