Scientists Urge Halt to ‘Mirror Bacteria’ Experiments

Scientists are calling for a suspension of research relating to “mirror life” bacteria. “Mirror” bacteria are synthetic organisms created through mirror images of molecules.

“Driven by curiosity and plausible applications, some researchers had begun work toward creating lifeforms composed entirely of mirror-image biological molecules. Such mirror organisms would constitute a radical departure from known life, and their creation warrants careful consideration,” researchers wrote in the journal Science.

“Our analysis suggests that mirror bacteria would likely evade many immune mechanisms mediated by chiral molecules, potentially causing lethal infection in humans, animals, and plants,” the scientists added, explaining that the mirror bacteria are “likely to evade predation from natural-chirality phage and many other predators, facilitating spread in the environment.”

Mirror bacteria may be considered an “invasive species,” leading to “pervasive lethal infections in a substantial fraction of plant and animal species, including humans.”

“Unless compelling evidence emerges that mirror life would not pose extraordinary dangers, we believe that mirror bacteria and other mirror organisms, even those with engineered biocontainment measures, should not be created,” the researchers wrote, recommending that research relating to creating mirror bacteria “not be permitted.”

The researchers further recommended that scientists study “the interaction of mirror biomolecules with the immune system as well as developing detection methods and biosurveillance systems,” so long as mirror bacteria are not produced.

“We are hopeful that scientists and society at large will take a responsible approach to managing a technology that might pose unprecedented risks,” they wrote.

Synthetic biologist at the University of Minnesota and co-author of the journal entry Dr. Kate Adamala emphasized to The Guardian that “[w]e should not be making mirror life.”

“We have time for the conversation. And that’s what we were trying to do with this paper, to start a global conversation,” she said.

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