Name: Watch me unveil "synthetic life"
Uploaded: 2010-05-21T09:13:00Z
Duration: 18 min
Description: Craig Venter and team make a historic announcement: they've created the first fully functioning, reproducing cell controlled by synthetic DNA. He explains how they did it and why the achievement marks the beginning of a new era for science.

Craig Venter and team make a historic announcement: they've created the first fully functioning, reproducing cell controlled by synthetic DNA. He explains how they did it and why the achievement marks the beginning of a new era for science.

Watch me unveil "synthetic life"

Scientists have built the first self-replicating cell controlled entirely by synthetic DNA, crafted from digital code and chemicals. This new organism even carries a watermark—its own website—embedded in its genetic code. The achievement required 15 years of persistence, hundreds of failed experiments, and breakthroughs in both chemistry and biology. It marks a profound shift, opening the door to designing life for medicine, energy, and environmental solutions.