First Artificial Cell
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What
Synthetic DNA inserted in enucleated bacterial cell
Host cell showed synthetic DNA features
Analogy: Changing the O.S. to a P.C.
Take a Windows PC
Format hard disk
Install Linux
Artificial life?
Only DNA artificial
DNA was copied from an existing bacterium
What for?
Producing any biological chemical in large amounts
Fuels
Vaccines
...
Reception
Skepticism about potential benefits / Unnecessary
Current techniques may do the job
Uncertainity about in-the-wild behaviour of artificial bacteria
"Biological pollution"
Fears to potential dangerous uses
Bioterrorism
Who
Craig Venter