World-leading scientists have called for a halt on research to create “mirror life” microbes amid concerns that the synthetic organisms would present an “unprecedented risk” to life on Earth.
The international group of Nobel laureates and other experts warn that mirror bacteria, constructed from mirror images of molecules found in nature, could become established in the environment and slip past the immune defences of natural organisms, putting humans, animals and plants at risk of lethal infections.
Although a viable mirror microbe would probably take at least a decade to build, a new risk assessment raised such serious concerns about the organisms that the 38-strong group urged scientists to stop work towards the goal and asked funders to make clear they will no longer support the research.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is planning a large study into potential connections...
Australia's most prolific blood and plasma donor, James Harrison, has died at age 88. Known as...
A bill that would have required women seeking medication abortions to get ultrasounds has been vetoed...
The Philadelphia school district will reportedly ignore a rule directing schools to ban transgender athletes from...
