DNA Synthesizer

Playing God? – "We are not playing..."

After having seen this TED talk by Craig Venter, I came across a cynical yet clarifying comic (etcgroup.org) on his plans to build a new DNA synthesizer, an instrument that is basically about "printing" life. Manufactured DNA can be injected into a natural bacterial cell, where it substitutes part of the original genome. When that cell divides, one of both cells will contain the synthetic genome. Voilá: a new species is born.

Craig Venter is the first individual of whom the diploïd genome was published (here is a small video describing that project).

Related: How to Print an Organ | Dolly the cloned sheep | Brainbow Mice | DNA as Information Storage | Chromosome 11 flyover