In 2010, a groundbreaking achievement in biotechnology led to the creation of a cell with a synthetic genome, sparking excitement that has since turned into concern. Experts, including Nobel laureates, are now urging a halt on research into ‘mirror’ bacteria due to potential risks, such as evading immune responses and causing uncontrollable infections. Despite advancements in developing these organisms, significant ethical and safety discussions are essential, with plans for a roundtable at the Pasteur Institute in 2025 to address these issues.
A Journey Through Scientific Breakthroughs and Ethical Concerns
On May 21, 2010, the American journal *Science* made headlines with an extraordinary announcement: a biotechnology research team had successfully created *’the first cell governed by a synthetic genome’*. This remarkable feat involved synthesizing the complete DNA of a bacterium and proving its normal functioning, igniting excitement throughout the research community. Fast forward almost fifteen years, and the enthusiasm has shifted towards apprehension and debate.
Concerns Over Synthetic Organisms and Their Potential Risks
A coalition of experts, including several Nobel Prize winners, is now advocating for a pause in research focused on developing ‘mirror’ bacteria. Their primary worry is that these synthetic organisms could become uncontrollable. In nature, many biomolecules exist in two forms, which are mirror images of each other. For instance, the DNA in living organisms consists of ‘right-handed’ nucleotides, whereas proteins are formed from ‘left-handed’ amino acids.
Motivated by curiosity and potential applications, researchers have recently ventured into creating bacteria composed of these mirror-image molecules. These innovations could lead to breakthroughs in treating chronic and difficult-to-manage diseases and enhance the resilience of bioproduction facilities against contamination, as highlighted by the *Guardian*.
Professor Vaughn Cooper, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Pittsburgh, warns, *’Mirror bacteria would likely bypass many immune responses in humans, animals, and plants, leading to severe infections.’* This alarming prediction stems from a comprehensive 299-page report released on December 12 in *Science*. Professor Cooper emphasizes the unprecedented nature of the threats posed by mirror bacteria, which could result in uncontrollable infections.
The immune systems of various organisms depend on recognizing specific molecular patterns in invading bacteria. However, if these patterns are mirrored, as with mirror bacteria, the immune response may fail, leaving organisms vulnerable to infection. Although creating mirror life may take another decade and necessitate substantial investments and advancements, notable progress has been made. Researchers have successfully developed large functional mirror molecules for closer examination and have made initial attempts at constructing mirror microbes, albeit the creation of a complete organism remains an elusive goal for now.
Dr. Kate Adamala, a synthetic biologist at the University of Minnesota and one of the report’s co-authors, was initially focused on developing a mirror cell but decided against it after thoroughly assessing the associated risks. The report features contributions from distinguished scientists, including American Jack Szostak, a 2009 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology and Medicine, and British Greg Winter, a 2018 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry. To address the potential dangers linked to mirror bacteria, the authors are planning a roundtable discussion at the Pasteur Institute in 2025.