Biocatalysis

For another take on the impact of Craig Venter’s accomplishment in creating a designed organism

Craig Venter, together with scientist from his company Synthetic Genomics, recently announced a scientific breakthrough: creation of the first synthetic cell. Here is the brief summary of what was accomplished: a cell had its DNA removed and replaced by DNA designed on a computer and synthesized in the lab, and the cell with the lab-synthesized DNA was able to reproduce. Voila–a new life form was made according to the designed DNA. The future implication are that soon Venter and Co. will be able to design and create a “super bug” ideally designed to churn out larger quantities of fuel compounds that was heretofore possible, and do so from precursors as inexpensive and readily available a carbon dioxide. I cannot predict the timeline, but Venter’s work is the first step in what will likely be a series of scientific accomplishments culminating in a wide range of highly efficient bioprocesses.

The cover story in the October 19, 2009 Wall Street Journal names 5 technologies that could, if successful, radically change the world energy picture, and next generation biofuels from algae is one of them. I would broaden the category to include designer microorganisms of the type being developed by Synthetic Genomics, but in general, I agree. Converting carbon dioxide into fuels using energy from the sun to drive the process would be a game-changer. Let’s hope it works out.