'Mirror bacteria' could endanger all life on Earth
The idea of mirror life involves changing this natural chirality, creating organisms with “left-handed” DNA and “right-handed” proteins.
Scientists have called for an end to the creation of “mirror bacteria” – synthetic microorganisms created from the inverted molecular building blocks of natural life.
According to a comprehensive report by an international team of 38 scientists published in the journal Science, the potential dangers of these hypothetical organisms far outweigh any perceived benefits.
Their findings have sparked global debate about the future of synthetic biology and its ethical limits, writes Interesting Engineering.
“The threat we are talking about is unprecedented. Mirror bacteria will likely escape many immune system responses…
