The possibility of creating a “mirror life” – prose cells made of molecules that are identical images of those in nature – are completely virtual. However, the possible consequences are so bitter that experts from all over the world are gathering to discuss how to prevent the worst scenario.
This week, scientists, engineers, policy makers and other stakeholders will a contract In Manchester, the United Kingdom, Engineering and Protection of Artificial Life 2025. This annual international conference explores the risks, challenges and opportunities in research and artificial life. The mirror life appears as a topic worth a big discussion, as many scientists warn that the creation of such cells can pose unprecedented and irreversible risks to human health and the environment.
“Everyone largely agrees” that mirror cells-a picture will be “bad”, John Glass, the artificial biologist at the J He said nature. At the same time, some scientists argue that mirror research provides potential benefits that should not be ignored. The question is: How should experts organize such research to increase these benefits while reducing risks to a minimum?
Why study mirror life?
Most biological molecules that make up life on Earth – including all proteins, DNA and RNA – either left or right. These “Chiral” molecules, which means that it cannot be installed in the mirror image. Just as the right gloves only does not fit your right hand, spiral molecules can only interact with other particles of compatible Chirality.
Mirror image cells will be built from artificial particles, unlike those in nature. While the DNA is right, the mirror DNA will be left -handed, for example. Scientists are still decades from the synthesis of a complete mirror cell, but in recent years, some vital molecules have created a mirror, such as inverted enzymes that can repeat, copy and copy the mirror image DNA and RNA DNA.
One of the main incentives for the creation of mirror image cells is that it can help scientists detect how Chiralry appears in nature, but building blocks for these cells also pledged to vital engineering promises and discover therapeutic drugs. Researchers believe that the body and immune system enzymes will not easily recognize the vital molecules of mirror images, allowing drugs made of them to stay more stable in the bloodstream. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already performed consent One of these medications to treat chronic kidney disease.
What are the risks?
Even these early developments concern some scientists. The same properties that make these vital artificial molecules are likely to allow the treatment of mirror image cells to spread in an irreplaceable way throughout the body or nature.
With the ability to evade immune, medicine, predation and viral infections, experts have warned that mirror bacteria can gradually assume the environment. Scientists can only look about the consequences of this worst scenario, but there is strong evidence on Suggest These mirror bacteria can be shaken catastrophic and pose great risks to human health.
some Believe These risks require abandoning the possibility of creating a mirror life. I am free Argue These restrictions and guidelines can allow a good position to search to apply without forming a threat to life as we know it. It is likely to raise the issue of how to move forward – if it is absolutely – an enthusiastic discussion at this week’s conference in Manchester.
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