Synthetic Chromosome First Step Towards Creating Artificial Life

The Guardian in the UK is reporting that Craig Venter, the controversial DNA researcher involved in the race to decipher the human genetic code, has built a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals and is poised to announce the creation of the first new artificial life form on Earth.

The report says that Venter's team of 20 scientists has constructed a synthetic chromosome in the laboratory from various chemicals. The chromosome they developed is 381 genes long and contains 580,000 base pairs of genetic code. It is based on the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium but has been reduced to the barest essentials required to sustain life. They have called the synthetic chromosome  Mycoplasma laboratorium.

The next step is to take the chromosome and transplant it into a living bacterial cell, where is would take control of the cell and become a new life form.

An announcement on this and futher developments is expected to create controversy and will be made within weeks - or perhaps days.