J. Craig Venter Institute: "First Self-Replicating Synthetic Bacterial Cell"

 

How important are our human intentions to the outcome of an endeavor?

This is something I'm wondering about after reading the J. Craig Venter Institute press release as well as some of the articles resulting from this announcement.  The May 20 edition of Science Express presents the article "Creation of a Bacterial Cell Controlled by a Chemically Synthesized Genome" by Daniel Gibson et al.

J. Craig Venter is quoted in the release:

 

"We have been consumed by this research, but we have also been equally 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 review and dialogue about the important applications of this work to ensure that it is used for the benefit of all."

A Daily Mail (U.K.) article by Fiona Macrae reported that Dr. Venter had "previously succeeded transplanting one bug's genome – its entire cache of DNA – into another bacterium, effectively changing its species.  He has now taken this one step further, transplanting not a natural genome but a manmade one . . . Now that the scientist, whose J. Craig Venter Institute has labs in California and Maryland, has proved the concept, the way is open for him to alter the 'recipe' to create any sort of organism he chooses.  At the top of his wishlist are bugs capable of producing clean fuels and of sucking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere."

Victoria Gill's BBC News report of the announcement presented the cautionary response of Dr. Helen Wallace of Genewatch UK.

 

"If you release new organisms into the environment, you can do more harm than good," she said.

"By releasing them into areas of pollution, [with the aim of cleaning it up], you're actually releasing a new kind of pollution.

"We don't know how these organisms will behave in the environment."

Gill also provided a quote from University of Oxford professor Julian Savulescu: "We need new standards of safety evaluation for this kind of radical research and protections from military or terrorist misuse and abuse."

The Guardian (UK) report by Ian Sample heralded the published results as a "landmark experiment" and "controversial feat," explaining –

 

The new organism is based on an existing bacterium that causes mastitis in goats, but at its core is an entirely synthetic genome that was constructed from chemicals in the laboratory.

The single-celled organism has four "watermarks" written into its DNA to identify it as synthetic and help trace its descendants back to their creator, should they go astray.

Today's Observer (UK) presents a profile article about Dr. Venter entitled "Craig Venter: The dazzling showman of science."

I've previously commented about the potential of individuals working among a constituency to fulfill allied objectives that are financially motivated while possibly functioning in submission to the illusion that immoral personal conduct can be obligatory or 'standard operating procedure.'  Considering the threat of terrorism or depopulation programs made possible by 'designer microbes,' there have been hastily considered statements by people in various positions of social authority during the course of many years.  A spiritually aware perspective involves comprehending  how nationalities and companies are foremostly artificial principalities organized around and related to controlling wealth.

 

Many human beings pray for solutions to the problems confronting us in our world.  Scientific advancements made possible by technological developments can improve conditions for humanity or lead to great hardships.  Our spiritual understanding and individual intentions will always be a factor in what will occur.