"I am creating artificial life", declares US gene pioneer

Craig Venter, a DNA researcher at the Scientific Institute in San Diego, California, claims to have created the first artificial life form by creating his own chromosome made from 381 genes strung together containing a total of 580,000 base pairs. The chromosome was made from the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium and their new, designer chromosome is dubbed Mycoplasma laboratorium. However, this genetic material is not enough, as the genetic information must be transplanted into a living cell to use the cellular machinery to function, divide, and replicate. This "creation" brings up ethical questions, but elevates the scientific standard, as we used to only dream of being able to make "designer" genes. In addition, a "designer" bacterial strain might once be made to combat global warming, or create new energy sources. Whether commercially applicable or not, this significant finding is surely a breakthrough. This Article Can be found at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/oct/06/genetics.climatechange.