Synthetic Human Genome Project

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Science and technology

Why in news?

Recently a UK-based laboratory started Synthetic Human Genome Project initiative to construct human DNA from scratch.

• Synthetic Human Genome Project – It is considered a world-first project in synthetic human DNA construction.
• Initiative by – It is led by researchers from the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge.
• Aim – It aims to assemble artificial chromosomes in the lab.
• Objectives – To explore how genes govern repair, development, and illness.
• To enable the creation of disease-resistant cells that can help regenerate damaged organs like the heart, liver, and immune system.
• Funding – It is backed by an initial grant of £10 million from the Wellcome Trust, the world's largest medical charity.
• Relevance on Human Genome Project – The Synthetic Human Genome Project builds directly on the Human Genome Project achievements.
• While the Human Genome Project focused on reading existing DNA, the synthetic project aims to construct human DNA from scratch, including artificial chromosomes.
• Potential benefits – It could revolutionise treatment for genetic disorders and age-related diseases.
• It opens the possibility of new therapies to improve health and longevity.
• It could lead to breakthroughs in creating disease-resistant cells for repairing organs like the heart, liver, and immune system.
• Ethical concerns and risks – Fears of creating designer humans or synthetic life with unforeseen consequences.
• Risk of misuse for harmful purposes, including biological warfare.
• Concerns about who controls and regulates synthetic human DNA technology.
• Ethical oversight mechanism – A parallel mechanism is established, which involves sociologists, ethicists, and public consultations to understand public perceptions, benefits, and concerns.

Reference

The Indian Express| Synthetic Human Genome Project