Scientists begin a controversial project to create the foundations of human life, in what is considered unprecedented in the world.
The beginning was given in a controversial project to create the foundations of human life from scratch in those that are believed to be unprecedented in the world.
The research has so far been a taboo due to the concerns that could lead to genetically designed children or unexpected changes to future generations.
But now the largest health charity institution in the world, WellCome Trust, has granted initial funds of £ 10 million to start the project and says that it has the potential to do better than bad and accelerated treatments for many incurable diseases.
Julian Sales of the Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Medical Research Council (MRC) in Cambridge, the United Kingdom, which is part of the project, told the BBC News that research is the next big jump in biology.
“Paradise is the limit. We are looking for therapies that improve the lives of people as they age, which lead to a healthier aging, with less diseases as they age.”
“We are trying to use this approach to generate disease resistant cells that we can use to” repopulate “the damaged organs, for example the liver and the heart, even the immune system,” he explained.
But critics fear that the research opens the way for unscrupulous researchers who try to create improved or modified human beings.
Pat Thomas, director of the Beyond GM campaign group, said: “We like to think that all scientists are there to do good, but science can be reused to cause damage and war”.
The details of the project were provided to BBC News on the 25th anniversary of the completion of the human genome project, which mapped the human DNA molecules and was also widely financed by Wellome.
Each cell in our body contains a molecule called DNA, which transports the genetic information it needs. The DNA is built by only four much smaller blocks, called to, G, C and T, which repeat several times in different combinations. Surprisingly, it contains all the genetic information that makes us physically physically.
The human genome project allowed scientists to read all human genes as a barcode. The new research that is starting, called synthetic human genome, potentially represents great progress: it will allow researchers not only to read a DNA molecule, but to create parts – perhaps one day, is completely – molecule for molecule from scratch.
The first purpose of scientists is to develop ways to build growing blocks of human DNA, at the point where they have briefly built a human chromosome. They contain the genes that regulate our development, repair and maintenance.
They will then be designed and subjected to experiments to better understand how genes and DNA regulate our bodies.
Many diseases occur when there are problems with these genes, so studies can lead to better treatments, according to Matthew Hurles, director of the Wellcomo Sanger Institute, who sequenced most of the human genome.
“Building DNA from scratch allows us to test how DNA really works and test new theories, because we can only do it by adjusting the DNA [DNA] This already exists in living systems. “
The scope of the project will be limited to tubes and signs of Petri and there will be no attempt to create a synthetic life. But technology will offer researchers unprecedented on human life systems.
And while the project is looking for health benefits, there is nothing that prevents unscrupulous scientists from being improper of technology.
For example, they could try to create biological, enhanced human weapons or even human DNA creatures, according to Bill Earnshaw, a very respected genetic scientist at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, who designed a method to create artificial human chromosomes.
“The genius is out of the lamp,” he told the BBC News. “Now we could have a series of restrictions, but if an organization that has access to appropriate machinery to decide to start synthesizing anything, I don’t think we could stop it.”
Thomas is worried about the way technology will be marketed by healthcare companies that develop treatments deriving from research.
“If we can create synthetic parts of the body or even synthetic people, who will be the owner of them? And who belongs to the data of these creations?”
Given the possibility of an improper use of technology, the question for Wellcoming is the reason why they decided to finance it. The decision was not taken lightly, according to Tom Collins, which gave the approval to the loan.
“We wondered what the cost of the speech would be,” he told the BBC News.
“This technology will be developed one day, so when we do it now, at least we are trying to do in the most responsible way possible and deal with ethical and moral issues as directly as possible.”
A dedicated program of social sciences will be conducted in parallel to the scientific development of the project and will be led by Joy Zhang, a sociologist from Kent University in the United Kingdom.
“We want to know the opinion of experts, social scientists and in particular the public on how they relate to technology and how they can be useful for them and above all what their doubts and concerns are,” he explains.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
