Found this in The Sunday Times and thought this group just might be interested in it. Seems a little more real than speculating about ChemTrails, Black Helicopters and such:

First artificial DNA can create new forms of life

(fair and educational use, or whatever I'm supposed to say to post it here)

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January 23 2000 BRITAIN

First artificial DNA can create new forms of life

Jonathan Leake and Roger Dobson

SCIENTISTS have made the world's first synthetic DNA -the molecules that form the blueprint for life.

The breakthrough means that the first artificial organisms could be "born" within two years and raises the prospect of humans redesigning whole species, including themselves.

The DNA was created at the University of Texas where researchers have mapped out the exact way it will be configured to create synthetic organism one (SO1), the microbe destined to be the world's first man-made creature.

"We are synthesising DNA to create the first synthetic organism," said Professor Glen Evans, director of the university's genome science and technology centre. "SO1 will have no specific function but once it is alive we can customise it. We can go back to the computer and change a gene and create other new life forms by simply pressing a button."

The researchers are planning to create a series of designer bugs, with super-efficient mechanisms for infecting target tissues such as cancer tumours - and then killing them. Some would infect the human gut to produce vitamin C.

Critics, however, have warned that the scientists risk unleashing a microbe master race with increased powers to infect humans and wildlife.

The researchers' success lies in having found a way to create long chains of DNA. Such chains are made up of four types of molecule which join up in twosomes known as "base pairs". The base pairs then link to form a ladder that twists into the famous DNA double helix.

In nature, one chain of DNA can contain hundreds of thousands of base pairs. Until now, however, scientists have found it impossible to join together more than 100.

Evans's team has broken this barrier with a technique that first creates short chains of DNA and then joins them together in a controllable way.

The scientists are close to achieving chains that contain 100,000 base pairs - enough to form the basis for simple life forms.

The design for SO1 is based on analyses of the genes of other small bacteria. Genes are the functional units of DNA, each one being responsible for creating a protein essential to processes such as respiration.

Evans plans to copy the vital genes from each bacterium, select the best and join them together. In nature all DNA also contains "junk genes" with no function but Evans plans to omit these - possibly making SO1 the most efficient organism that has lived.

The work to create SO1 is complex but the test of success will be simple. Can SO1 feed and reproduce? If so, then Evans will indeed be celebrating new life. Opponents, however, will regard such an event very differently.

Tony Juniper, policy and campaigns director of Friends of the Earth, said the bugs could present a serious threat to human health and the environment. He said: "Scientists have already unleashed genetically modified organisms and we are now seeing the damage they can do. Playing God by creating entirely new life forms could have very serious consequences which should be publicly and fully debated."

Others are less perturbed. Michael Reiss, a specialist in bioethics at Cambridge University, said he would become concerned only if such life became sentient. "In the 19th century people thought there was some vital essence to life and there was real controversy when the first organic compounds were made. My own view is that DNA is just an extension of that process," he said.

Evans believes that man will one day be able to create complex life forms. For now, however, the first benefit could be simpler - the end of the vitamin pill. "Humans need but cannot make vitamin C because we lack one particular enzyme," he said. "If we put that enzyme into one of our artificial organisms and drink it, the bug will live in our guts making vitamin C for ever."

-- Interested Spectator (is@the_ring.side), January 25, 2000

Answers

I don;t think our level of wisdom has advanced much since the LAST great breakthrough (nuclear energy). Just wondering how we are going to deal with this type of technology which is probably much more problematic.

Don't look too good to me.

-- ..- (dit@dot.dash), January 25, 2000.

Ask yourself one question...Does it really seem to be a good idea to be playing with this stuff?

-- Chris Tisone (c_tisone@hotmail.com), January 25, 2000.

Snip:

"First artificial DNA can create new forms of life"

Is it possible some of these new forms of life have found their way to the TB2000 forum?? I believe so!

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), January 25, 2000.

We appreciate the confession Ray.

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), January 25, 2000.

As someone who works in this area, I find this amazing. I have given numerous interviews and, even after review, I find what they publish to be amazing. Amazing is a good word. I would be amazed if these scientists actually believed what is reported here. It is a complete misinterpretation. Well believe it if you want to believe it.

Best wishes,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), January 25, 2000.