US researchers create virus from synthetic genes

[Harveylives]

US researchers create virus from synthetic genes



AFP Photo


US researchers said they have succeeded in creating an artificial virus from synthetic genes that can attack bacteria.

The Phi-X174 bacteriophage was developed from its genetic code. It took the scientists just 14 days to make the artificial virus.

Full details of the breakthrough, which could help fight certain incurable diseases, were to be given at a press conference later in the day.

The work was led by Craig Venter, who has also been strongly involved in work on mapping the human genome sequence.

[Lord Loser]

Hmmm, infinite possibilities. Many good, many bad. Once again a tool has been produced that depends on the hand that wields it.

[fermicat]

This is interesting, but creepy at the same time. I agree with LL -- what else can someone do with this? If it can be used for good, it can also be used for bad purposes.

[JasonF]

Hmmm... I sometimes wonder what types of reactions there'd be if it was called something other than a virus... or perhaps if it was discovered by EU scientists...

[Huh]

chill out guys. Trust me, it is so much easier to just manipulate human viruses to be much more potent than to create a designer virus. That is like building a car for car bomb. It is just easier to just buy a car and add a bomb to it!

[fermicat]

"Virus" just sounds so..... viral.

[JasonF]

Originally posted by fermicat
"Virus" just sounds so..... viral.
:critter:

[LadyCrais]

Heck, I haven't even figured out what they've done yet. Are they just saying that they synthesized the Phi-X174 genome? I seem to vaguely remember reading something about being able to synthesize DNA this large now.

The Phi-X174 bacteriophage was developed from its genetic code

I mean, what the frell is this statement saying? To a person reading it, it sounds like they're calling this "artifical" virus Phi-X174. Which is total hogwash since I've been using commercial (presumably grown and isolated) Phi-X174 DNA for at least a decade now. It's a standard lab DNA that's digested and used for size markers among other things.

Or is the idea that since they've successfully synthesized a virus of this size (I think it's one of, if not, THE smallest), that they can now modify it to use as a therapeutic agent? Not that I'm too clear on what the advantage would be since there are plenty of cut and paste methods of putting together designer DNA without synthesizing it the desired code directly.

[Frellster]

The article could stand to be longer, maybe a tad more scientific information?

[Silk]

OK, I just felt like bringing up the oldest thread in this section (that is, the one with the un-most recent post). I'm in a whimsical mood. Since I should be doing my homework. Anyway, I got to thinking about this. Well, not sure what a, how do you say, "virus," was, I looked it up on the internet. I found this site: http://www.geocities.com/blues_virus_sg/. Now, I've never heard any of their music, but they couldn't be that bad. So, why argue with creating them again? Isn't it like cloning, but without the need for the actual DNA? I mean, if you can use synthetic jeans to make a replica of someone, why not do it? The jeans won't be used elsewise. I know I won't wear them. I mean, cotton jeans are the way to go. When you get into synthetic, I stop listening. Unless you're planning on being out in the rain. In that case, I'd recommend synthetic jeans, but, come on people, who actually goes out in the rain nowadays? Does not everyone stay in and watch Farscape and post on FMD? If they don't, I don't listen to them. And, since most of you have probably tuned me out by now, I will go elsewhere-and keep not doing my homework.

[waltersgirl]

The Phi-X174 bacteriophage was developed from its genetic code. It took the scientists just 14 days to make the artificial virus.

do you know if any of the scientists involved is Russian? back when it was still the Soviet Union they had a hospital/research facility that used bacteriophages to treat disease as a matter of routine. funding fell out, etc and the work was abandoned. i know several of the scientists had come here and started a company, and then had gone back and tried to retrieve as much of their original work as possible. seems no one knew what was in the bacteriophage cocktails anymore and they had to do a lot of reverse engineering.