Black Trees - Synthetic Geneome

Life on earth is about to change forever at its most fundamental level.

Genetic scientist Craig Venter revealed that from the laboratory in his Institute in Rockville, Maryland, he is developing a synthetic bacterium. He claims that over the next twenty years synthetic genomics is going to become the standard for making anything.


Genetically enhanced bacteria are being created to fulfil various purposes in the hope they will be able to solve environmental and economic world problems. For example, to create bacterium that could mop up greenhouse gases, clean up oil spills or possibly produce plastics.


Dr. Drew Endy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says ‘Venture is not creating life from scratch. He is constructing a genome, which is more or less a slightly modified copy of an existing genome, then putting it into an existing cell.’ Once transplanted these artificially created chromosomes have the ability to multiply and divide and to control the bacterial cells. The cells could be programmed to perform a myriad of functions depending on your requirements.

Craig Venter is visiting world leaders to allay government concerns that this knowledge could be used for bio terrorism. This is a science that will easily become accessible in the future to anyone who wants it. It won’t require costly resources or exceptional expertise. In ten years it could be widely available, making it difficult to police.


In the near Future the very nature of our planet could be changing with momentous consequences - the scientist Freeman Dyson suggested black-leaved forests for more efficient use of sunlight.


‘Experiments are underway,’ said Craig Venter Genetic scientist, ‘but these experiments take six weeks because cells grow slowly, its weeks to month’s away.’ Should it be the Scientists pressurised by world governments, in turn assessing world economics that should decide upon this most profound change?

These are fundamental changes to our existence and though they could be used for mankind’s benefit if used in a negative way the effects could be irreversible and devastating, these are not issues to be decided quickly or for political gain or profit or done just because they can. These are topics for the whole world to discuss and decide upon.