Artificial Bacteria

We can create life, and now we can create life in several different ways. There was a time when this was unimaginable. Then came IVF. Then cloning. Now…we can make artificial bacteria from a synthetic genome! Giving life to that which was once lifeless. Imagine what would happen if this artificial bacteria evolved. It has fewer genes, and it has been designed with a specific purpose. What kind of craziness do you think might ensue with that combination of limited genetic material and evolution? Aside from the obvious zombie apocalypse, of course.

A newly created bacterium, with a synthetic genome, can metabolize nutrients and self-replicate, bringing the world a step closer to building custom artificial life with particular functionalities, Craig Venter and his team said.

Source: Tiny Artificial Life: Lab-Made Bacterium Sports Smallest Genome Yet