Synthetic Human Genome to Be Made and Implemented For Engineered Human Beings: Scientists

With escalating speculations over engineered input in human genome, a group of 25 scientists last week asserted that they are in an ambitious project to create synthetic human genome, also called genetic blueprint. The scientists said that their project is an endeavor to raise concerns over ‘the extent to which human life can or should be engineered.’

However, the scientists asserted that they are well aware that their project is controversial and would urge for most public involvement. Along with ethical, legal and social implications- engineered human genome has the potential to be used in made-to-order human beings with special genetic enhancements.

Though the group of researchers said that this is not their aim, and that synthetic human genome should be used to make human organs, engineered immunity to viruses, engineering cancer resistance and accelerating vaccine and drug development using human cells and organs. Report are that the scientists hope to get $100 million in public and private funding to launch the project this year, following the total costs of less than the $3 billion, which was used for the original Human Genome Project that completely mapped human DNA for the first time in 2003.

The research team, led by geneticist Jef Boeke of the New York University Langone Medical Center, wrote that their new project will ‘include whole-genome engineering of human cell lines and other organisms of agricultural and public health significance, or those needed to interpret human biological functions.’