Name: On the verge of creating synthetic life
Uploaded: 2008-03-06T01:38:00Z
Duration: 15 min 34 s
Description: "Can we create new life out of our digital universe?" Craig Venter asks. His answer is "yes" -- and pretty soon. He walks through his latest research and promises that we'll soon be able to build and boot up a synthetic chromosome. NOTE: This talk was given in 2008, and this field of science has developed quickly since then. Read "Corrections & Updates" below for more details.

"Can we create new life out of our digital universe?" Craig Venter asks. His answer is "yes" -- and pretty soon. He walks through his latest research and promises that we'll soon be able to build and boot up a synthetic chromosome. NOTE: This talk was given in 2008, and this field of science has developed quickly since then. Read "Corrections & Updates" below for more details.

On the verge of creating synthetic life

Scientists have succeeded in moving biology from reading genomes to writing them, creating synthetic chromosomes from digital information. In one case, a lab-built DNA molecule of over 580,000 letters was assembled and transplanted to transform one bacterial species into another. This leap in synthetic biology opens the door to designing organisms that could create fuels, medicines, or even reshape how we answer 'What is life?' As global populations and resource needs soar, these novel tools could help meet the challenges ahead.