A group of 38 scientists has expressed concerns about the potential dangers of creating life forms composed entirely of “mirror-image molecules”. These organisms would be a radical departure from known life and could pose significant risks to global health.
Currently, all living organisms arise from right-handed nucleotides in DNA and RNA, and left-handed amino acids that form proteins. However, mirror-image alternatives to these molecules do exist. Researchers are interested in creating bacteria with these flipped molecules, but experts warn that this could lead to unforeseen consequences.
The main reasons researchers want to create these bacteria include producing mirror-image molecules for pharmaceutical companies, which would be a laborious process if done from scratch. However, scientists have raised concerns about the potential risks of unchecked replication and the body’s inability to break down these mirror-version proteins.
Biochemist Michael Kay notes that “mirror life” could replicate unchecked because natural mechanisms that prevent bacteria overgrowth may not work on these organisms. The incompatibility between mirror bacteria and their food source also poses a significant challenge.
The scientists agree that, although the threat is far from imminent, it’s essential to have an organized discussion about how to govern this technology. They emphasize that building a mirror bacterium is not worth the risk and could limit the promise of synthetic biology.
The paper, published in Science, highlights the need for careful consideration and caution when exploring new technologies that challenge our current understanding of life.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-urge-ban-on-mirror-life-before-it-endangers-global-health