A team of 38 experts from various disciplines has sounded the alarm on a potential lab leak that could unleash a global plague. The researchers warn that creating synthetic bacteria with mirror-image chemical makeup, which differs fundamentally from naturally occurring organisms, poses an unacceptable risk to human health and life on Earth.
The authors argue that governments should prohibit funding for research aimed at creating such bacteria, citing concerns that these organisms could contaminate the environment, spread through infected animals and plants, and cause catastrophic damage. The risks are considered severe, with potential exposure to contaminated dust or soil being fatal.
However, not everyone shares this view. Some researchers argue that the danger is overblown and that research bans could hinder progress in unrelated fields. They point out that natural enzymes struggle to break down mirror-image biomolecules, which have been used in approved drugs and are a significant breakthrough in synthetic biology.
The authors acknowledge it will take at least a decade for scientists to develop these life forms but urge caution. The Policy Forum group recommends halting research on creating mirror bacteria until the risks are better understood. Despite the controversy, many experts agree that the potential risks outweigh the benefits of pursuing this line of work.
Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/leading-scientists-urge-ban-developing-mirror-image-bacteria