There was a lot of big news on Thursday. But could there be bigger news than that scientists have made the "first self-replicating
species on the planet whose parent is a computer," as lead researcher Dr. Craig Venter put it?
Among scientists' goals: designing microbes able to, for example, convert carbon-dioxide into oil, clean up pollution, and act as miniscule machines to accelerate the manufacture of vaccines.
Others
fear that the technology could be used to make biological weapons.
Lots of promise, lots of ethical issues. President Obama asked his bioethics advisers to report on the implications, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee plans a hearing next week.
An Economist opinion piece
ruminates on the crossing of the Rubicon.