Researchers build huge DNA chains -- able to create synthetic lifeforms within the next decade

From: John E. Rylander (rylander@prolexia.com)
Date: Thu Jan 27 2000 - 16:48:27 EST

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    Interesting BBC science article.

    John

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_620000/620847.stm

    Excerpt:

    Scientists believe they will be able to create synthetic lifeforms within
    the next decade.

    That is the confident prediction of researchers at the University of Texas
    who have managed to assemble very long strands of the life molecule, DNA, in
    the laboratory.

    Researchers working in this field believe such "engineering" expertise will
    be an essential first step if we want to make novel bacteria to order. Such
    microbes could play an invaluable role in medicine, industry and in
    environmental control.

    ....

    The breakthrough that is still necessary to do this is to know how to
    jumpstart the genome

    ....

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