For the first time creating living cells

US scientists have created artificial DNA from chemicals to control living cells in the laboratory.

Dr. Craig Venter, founder of J. Craig Venter Institute.Photo: New York Times .

The J. Craig Venter Institute team used a number of chemicals to synthesize DNA fragments in the laboratory. From those DNA fragments, the team created the genome of a single-celled bacterium Mycoplasma mycoides - the culprit in goat's mastitis. Experts then implanted the gene into the cytoplasm of a single-celled species related to Mycoplasma mycoides.

The genome is quickly "rooted" in cells (bacteria) and then constantly divided, creating millions of new Mycoplasma mycoides bacteria.

"When we introduced the gene, the bacteria accepted it and turned itself into a bacterium Mycoplasma mycoides. These are the first self-dividing cells created by the computer." Venter, the team leader.

Thus, the bacterial genome initially existed only as data on computers, but Venter and his colleagues turned the data into living cells.

However, Venter insists he has not yet created life.

'We just created the first artificial living cell. We have not created life from zero because we have to use another cell to receive artificial DNA , 'he said.

Andy Ellington, a biologist at the University of Texas in the US, said that biologically, there is no difference between natural bacteria and artificial bacteria.

'Both types of bacteria have no souls,' Ellington said.