The article "Scientists Talk Privately About Creating A Synthetic Human Genome", written by Andrew Pollack, is about the research made by the author and other scientists in the sphere of the coordinated oscillations. They have managed to contemplate the human genome fabrication within the modern synthetic biology. They took various forms and components, linked them in order to create differently new forms with the aim of creating the new human DNA by use of chemicals. In general, synthetic biology considers the switches of genes, and the scientists made there investigations within that sphere.
In recent years, instead of the usual genetic engineering, scientists began to talk a lot about synthetic biology - a new approach to working with DNA, which includes the creation of entirely new genes that do not exist in nature. Synthetic biology is interesting for everyone - young scientists, biohackers, as well as investors, who are ready to invest in biological startups. People are engaged in genetic manipulation for thousands of years: first, they did it with the help of artificial selection, then, with the discovery of DNA, then moved to more skillful methods (Pollack). The last 40 years, scientists excised and replaced DNA segments, sequenced them, and simulated on a computer. This is known as "genetic engineering" which is now replaced by a new branch of biology - even whole philosophy - the so-called "synthetic biology." Its essence is to use DNA as a building material and create something new, that does not exist in nature.
The genetic information of every living organism is stored in spiral DNA molecules. There are four kinds of nitrogenous bases that occur in the DNA: adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine. Life properties can be decomposed into sequences of letters A, G, T and C - nitrogen bases. These sequences and their properties are detected and cataloged by scientists. There are online databases, which can be accessed in order to find the right sequence and even order its creation. One of the most famous is the database called NCBI BLAST. When the desired sequence is found, it can be synthesized on a DNA synthesizer - a machine that literally creates a DNA molecule. The sequences that are used in synthetic biology are called biobricks, from which scientists can collect new things. There are organizations dedicated to working with these cubes.
As with many modern technologies, the most strange and interesting things happen in the world of startups. Reprogramming DNA opens truly great opportunities. Company Bolt Threads, which recently received $ 32 million of investment, is trying to create a revolutionary new material, based on a web. It is well known that the web is better than any material artificially created by man. Bolt Threads created a synthetic microorganism which allocates a unique protein having properties similar to the properties of the web (Pollack). This protein is added to the tissue. Afineur tries to create the perfect coffee using a synthetic biology technologies. Clara Foods creates artificial eggs without chickens. Gingkgo Bioworks creates unique microbes to pharmaceutical companies. There is even a start-up accelerator dedicated exclusively to biological startups, for example, Indie Bio. Like any manipulation of genes, synthetic biology can be both useful and dangerous. On the one hand, with the help of synthetic biology scientists can do useful things, solve the problems of hunger, cure disease, and create new organisms. On the other hand, there is always the danger of the creation of a deadly virus that run into the nature of the body, which was not supposed to exist. The other danger is to cause a new wave of bioterrorism.
Works cited
Pollack, Andrew. "Scientists Talk Privately About Creating A Synthetic Human Genome". Nytimes.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 11 July 2016. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/science/synthetic-human-genome.html?_r=0
