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'Mirror Life' Is a Dangerous Scientific Vision. Here's Why.

The article from ScienceAlert discusses the concept of "mirror life," where scientists are exploring the creation of synthetic life forms using mirror-image versions of biological molecules. This idea stems from the fact that life on Earth is based on left-handed amino acids and right-handed sugars, but theoretically, life could exist with the opposite chirality. Researchers, like Professor John Sutherland from the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, are attempting to build these mirror-image biomolecules to potentially create organisms that could be immune to natural enzymes and viruses, offering applications in medicine and biotechnology. However, this venture into synthetic biology raises significant ethical and safety concerns. Critics worry about the potential for these organisms to escape lab control, leading to unforeseen ecological impacts or becoming biological weapons. The article highlights the dual-use nature of this technology, where the same research that could lead to medical breakthroughs might also pose existential risks if misused, prompting calls for stringent regulations and oversight.

Read the Full ScienceAlert Article at:
[ https://www.sciencealert.com/mirror-life-is-a-dangerous-scientific-vision-heres-why ]