CNN Gets 'Synthetic Life' Right in the Headlines

[Caecilian]

The first point that I'd like to make is that DNA does not equal life. DNA is, of course, an absolutely essential component of all living cells, but so are lots of other components- the ribosomes, the cytoskeleton, the cellular membrane, the network of enzymes that instantiates metabolism, and so on. Living systems are incredibly complex networks which operate in such a way as to conserve their identity from the general environment, maintain and repair themselves, and reproduce. They aren't in any way reducible to a particular chemical, however important that chemical may be.

What Venter and his team did was to manufacture a novel DNA system, and then insert it into an already functioning organism. It seems reasonable to say that in doing so they created a new species of bacterium. What they very clearly didn't do was create life- life was already there.

Heres an analogy. Suppose you design and manufacture a new type of car engine. You then remove the engine from a car, and put your engine in. What have you done? Not made a car, certainly, since all you've done is replaced one of the components, albeit a very important one. However, if you claimed that you hade made a new model of car, then I doubt if many people would argue with you.