Scientists creating synthetic organism

B9802095 Kevin Sheu (許傑 )醫學二

VocabularyintroductionSupplements

discussion

Outline

Vocabulary

• Piecemeal 逐漸的• Menagerie 動物展• Anew 重新• Play down 貶低• Patent 專利• Moratorium 暫停 ; 中止

Vocabulary

• Mandate 命令• Culmination 巔峰• Consortium 財團• Customize 訂做• Meld 融合• Watermark 水印

Scientists have created a synthetic cell, completely controlled by man-made genetic instructions.

The development may stir anew nagging questions of ethics, law and public safety.

It has the potential to transform genetic engineering.

First part

Some researchers chose neutral terms to describe the experimental cell. Some play down the development.

Some view this as an organism with a synthetic genome, not as a synthetic organism.

Second part

Several companies are already seeking to take advantage of the new field called synthetic biology.

Environment groups issued a statement “regulate all synthetic biology experiments and products”

There was no immediate reaction from Roman Catholic and protestant groups.

Third part

Wrote out the DNA code Revise the sequence Synthesize small fragments Connect the strips Inject the connected DNA into the genome-

removed cell

Introduction of DNA synthesis

Introduction of shotgun sequencing

(from Mycoplasma capricolum’DNA and M. capricolum’s cell, which lives in ruminants causing lung disease.)

Mycoplasma mycoides JCVI-syn1.0

James Joyce:生存、犯錯、倒下、戰勝，用生命創造生命

J. Robert Oppenheimer:觀看事物潛能而非表象 Richard Feynman:我無法創造的，我無法了解

Watermarks in JCVI-syn1.0

Human genome project Celera Genomics corp. Kistler Prize ENI award

J. Craig Venter

Artificially synthesized polymer similar to DNA or RNA

PNA's backbone is composed of repeating N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine units linked by peptide bonds.

Purine and pyrimidine bases are linked to the backbone by methylene carbonyl bonds.

Usage: diagnostic assays and antisense therapies Earliest life on Earth may have used PNA as a

genetic material

Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA-肽核酸 )

1. Will you back up this technique or are against it?

2. What kind of problem might happen if this technique matures?

Discussion