Artificial DNA: no sensations :(
Talk of an "invasion of homunculi" is prematureDmitry Chevelev, STRF.ru
Despite the lack of accurate data in the text, this message caused controversy in the scientific community. And in Internet blogs, topics like "homunculi are coming" appeared, and in their comments, users began to scare the public with the apocalypse according to the "gray slime" scenario.
If we abstract from emotions and look at the essence of the discovery of Steven A. Benner from the American Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FFAME), then there are no hints of the imminent capture of the planet by winged jerboa.
This is by no means the very first project to create artificial living matter. Characteristically, according to the statements of its "creators", artificial DNA, like its "natural" counterpart, has the ability to self–replicate. But there is another aspect that needs to be kept in mind when considering this project. We are talking about a completely self-sustaining system. Stephen Benner's artificial biological system is self-sustaining for exactly as long as it is "fed" with all the necessary substances. In other words, this issue has not been worked out, but the researcher assures that in a few years he will be able to present a self-sustaining system to the amazed public.
Famous Russian scientists expressed their opinion about the "sensation" of STRF: Lev Patrushev (Head of the Genome Analysis and Correction Group of the M. M. Shemyakin and Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences) and Evgeny Sverdlov (Head of the Laboratory of the Structure and Function of Human Genes of the M. M. Shemyakin and Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences).
Mr. Patrushev suggested not to judge the discovery by fragmentary information and not to rush to conclusions: "It would be possible to evaluate these facts by reading a scientific publication that is currently unavailable. In addition, S. Brenner himself says that this molecule is reproduced in them using PCR (polymerase chain reaction – approx. STRF). As for the evolution of molecules in vitro, this is a well–known approach for a long time. So we need to wait for the scientific publication of S. Brenner to evaluate the novelty of this work."
Evgeny Sverdlov gave his assessment of the work of his American colleague, based on the available materials about this work: "DNA has been synthesized, which, along with 4 ordinary nucleotides, contains 8 nucleotides not found in DNA. But they are nevertheless found in nature and, in particular, in RNA. All the "new" components (which Brenner particularly emphasized – note STRF) are variations of the well-known four. This DNA is by no means replicated by itself. To replicate it, you need to use the same technique that is used for replication in a test tube of ordinary DNA. The technique is called polymerase chain reaction – PCR. Replication is carried out by the enzyme DNA polymerase, and in order for it to pass, the mixture needs to be heated and cooled in a special device.
Thus, the application for self-replication, to put it mildly, is greatly exaggerated. In the future (in 2 years), the author is going to somehow achieve self-replication. I don't know what he means. We'll wait and see. Let's see what will be written not in newspapers, but in scientific articles.
I really want fame and hence the exaggerations, and often occurring. But it exceeds all imaginable limits. However, maybe it's not the author's fault, but the journalists'. It happens sometimes."
We should pay tribute to Mr. Benner and the result of his research, which, apparently, will even be able to evolve. But so far the new molecule is "not viable" and it is premature to talk about the birth of artificial life.
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru19.02.2009