Creation of first synthetic genome may lead us closer to superhumans

[G]eneticists are now getting ever closer to, not just removing and replacing genes, but rewriting entire genomes…[G]eneticists at Harvard recently recoded the genome of a synthetic E. coli bacteria.

Researchers replaced 62,214 base pairs of DNA. What they have done is recreate the DNA from scratch, though they haven’t actually brought the bacteria to life, yet. What was once thought impossible is no longer. This is the first synthetic genome ever assembled, and is being hailed as the most complex feat of genetic engineering, thus far.

With this technique, we could create any kind of life form we wanted, reprogram organisms, and even create synthetic proteins and compounds.

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One possible use for GROs is manufacturing. By rewriting a bacterium’s genetic code, it would change what kind of protein it makes. Synthetic bacteria could become living factories, programmed to produce whatever amino acid wished for.

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[C]ombined with gene editing and gene modification,…the idea of a race of super humans is not outside the realm of possibility.

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