Scientists Complete First Species Transplant

Scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute appear to have successfully done the first species transplant by taking the DNA from one bacteria and implanting it into another. After several rounds of cell division, the target cells’ chromosomes had been completely replaced and the cells began behaving like the donor cells.

Dr. Lartigue expects to make fully synthetic chromosomes in the near future that could be transplanted into a living organism. This would effectively lead to a new man-made species.

TG Daily - Scientists working on first species transplant

However, experts say it will be very difficult to apply the technique to other types of bacteria, and for now its use may be limited to the fragile and tiny mycoplasma germs.

Jay Keasling, a synthetic biologist at University of California-Berkeley, calls the work "an indication that it will one day, perhaps soon, be possible to create an organism with a completely synthetic genome."

Researchers hope that custom-engineered cells could be useful in producing new types of medicines, including bacteria designed to help the body attack disease, or to produce biofuels that could help ease the world’s reliance on oil. Such applications are far off, and no fully synthetic organism has yet been created.

Forbes - Venter Takes Step Toward Synthetic Cells