Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Synthetic lifeforms made from "mirror-image biological molecules" are a decade away but pose risks, according to an article in Science by 38 international scientists.
These mirror organisms, crafted from opposite-handed molecules, could evade immune systems, resist predators, and withstand most antibiotics, researchers warn.
Scientists highlight that mirror bacteria might evade human, animal, and plant immune responses, raising concerns about uncontrolled spread and infection risks.
Mirror organisms, like invasive species, could proliferate rapidly, evolving and diversifying unchecked in the environment, warn experts from Stanford and Yale.
If mirror bacteria were to emerge, they could be impervious to most antibiotics, adding a new layer of complexity to global health challenges.
The scientists strongly recommend banning the creation of mirror organisms unless there is undeniable proof they won’t pose extraordinary dangers.
Researchers urge funding agencies to withhold support for projects aiming to create mirror genomes or cells to mitigate the risks of synthetic pathogens.
Recommended actions include studying how mirror biomolecules interact with immune systems and developing detection methods to monitor potential threats.
The findings, published in Science, have sparked a critical conversation in the scientific community about ethical boundaries and potential biosecurity risks.