Mirror life refers to synthetic organisms with molecular structures reversed from those found in natural life. While this concept holds potential for medical breakthroughs, experts warn that the creation and release of mirror bacteria could pose significant environmental risks.
The idea of mirror life may seem impossible, but rapid advancements in biotechnology make its creation possible within the next few decades. However, researchers emphasize that there isn’t an imminent risk, as building a bacterial cell is incredibly difficult and requires new technologies to develop efficiently.
To mitigate potential risks, Kay and other experts plan to have international conferences and work with regulatory agencies to establish guidelines for responsible research and development. They also differentiate between mirror life and benign uses of mirror technology already underway, such as the development of chemically made mirror drugs.
Key concerns include the need for mirror molecules and proteins for survival outside the lab, which has so far been met at the bacterial level only. Furthermore, natural systems cannot utilize mirror structures, suggesting that an unstoppable disease may be less likely than a scenario where a pathogen cannot exploit our biology. Nevertheless, some experts speculate about the possibility of human-made life forms with capabilities exceeding current chiral limitations.
It is essential to engage in discussions and planning ahead to ensure responsible development of this technology and prevent potential risks from materializing.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/mirror-bacteria-warning-a-new-kind-of-life-could-pose-a-global-threat