Synthetic life

This was an interesting article I was reading this morning. All about steps towards creating fully synthetic life forms. Okay, it's yeast they are starting with, but give it a few years and who knows where it would head?

Now, the logical, rational scientist in me thinks great. A step towards begin able to create drugs better, more cost effectively and more efficiently. I wonder if the drug companies will be too happy about this, as they are businesses and geared up to make profit. If the cost comes down, will there be sufficient money to invest in new drugs research?

But, the person who has seen the damage we humans have done to the environment through creation of chemicals the earth does not naturally have (CFCs, DDT, plastics, for example) wonders if the creation of synthetic life forms may have these consequences. Okay, they should never leave the lab, or that's the plan at the moment, but what if they are used outwith a lab. The results are impressive, but there's no natural safeguard. Nothing eats it or it doesn't die. Then what? How do we deal with it once it's in the environment and there's nothing to break it down?

Yes, I sound very doom and gloom about this. As with all advances in technology and science we need to tread carefully and really test things. Too often scientist have thought they had it right, but long term use has  led to damage of the environment and chemicals which were banned in many countries long ago are still in the food chain and still causing damage. That information we will never get from lab study, as the world is so much more complex than a lab can ever re-create.

We need to look after the world, as it's not ours, but God's. We all have a choice, but than needs to be balanced with the needs and health of the whole of the world, in particular all God's children. If these advances in science make drugs cheaper and allow children to live past their first birthday, we need to try. Same goes for food production too.