In 2016, a groundbreaking achievement was made with the creation of the first synthetic organism designed entirely by humans. When you hear “synthetic organism,” you might think of artificial intelligence or robots, but this concept is about actual living biological entities crafted by human ingenuity.
To understand this achievement, let’s delve into the history of chemical synthesis. Before the 19th century, many believed in vitalism, the idea that living organisms possessed a unique life force. This belief was challenged in 1828 when Friedrich Wöhler synthesized urea, a compound naturally found in the human body, marking the birth of organic chemistry.
Over the following decades, chemists mastered the synthesis of various compounds. By the late 20th century, the field had advanced significantly, exemplified by Robert Burns Woodward’s synthesis of vitamin B12 in 1972. These advancements paved the way for mass production of compounds for medicine and technology.
Despite these advancements, some still cling to the idea that synthetic products are inferior to their natural counterparts. This is a misconception. Nature and humans both construct molecules using biosynthetic pathways, but nature operates within the confines of living organisms, which require specific conditions.
In contrast, human laboratories have the flexibility to use diverse materials and conditions, often achieving the same results more efficiently. If two molecules have identical atomic structures, they are the same, regardless of their origin.
From simple molecules, scientists have progressed to synthesizing large biomolecules like proteins and DNA. Techniques such as solid-phase peptide synthesis allow for the easy creation of any desired protein. The advent of CRISPR and gene editing has further simplified DNA sequence editing.
Craig Venter and his team have taken a significant leap by creating a synthetic genome with only 473 genes, the smallest of any known living organism. This genome forms a single-celled organism that has never existed in nature, crafted entirely by human hands.
Synthetic life challenges the outdated notion of vitalism, proving that humans can construct the building blocks of life. Beyond synthesizing basic organic compounds, we now have the capability to create self-replicating organisms from scratch.
What lies ahead? The potential is vast. We could develop synthetic microorganisms that absorb carbon dioxide to combat climate change or produce clean fuels. Perhaps we could even create synthetic plants and animals, giving rise to entirely new species born from human imagination. The possibilities are limitless.
If you’re intrigued by these topics, explore further with Professor Dave Explains, where you can find tutorials on chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, mathematics, and more. Dive into the world of science and discover the wonders it holds.
Research a specific synthetic organism or project in synthetic biology. Prepare a presentation that explains its design, purpose, and potential impact on science and society. Focus on how it challenges traditional concepts of life and vitalism.
Participate in a debate where you argue either for or against the idea that synthetic compounds are equivalent to natural ones. Use scientific evidence to support your position, considering both chemical structure and practical applications.
Engage in a workshop where you simulate the process of biomolecular synthesis using modeling kits or software. Focus on constructing proteins or DNA sequences, and discuss the challenges and innovations in synthetic biology techniques.
Analyze a case study on the use of CRISPR technology in synthetic biology. Discuss its implications for creating synthetic life, ethical considerations, and potential future applications in medicine and environmental science.
Design your own synthetic organism with a specific function or purpose. Create a detailed plan outlining its genetic makeup, intended use, and potential benefits or risks. Present your design to the class and discuss its feasibility and impact.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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[Music] In 2016, the first synthetic organism of original design was created. When you hear this statement, what does it make you think of? The word “synthetic” implies that something was built by humans. However, if you’re imagining artificial intelligence or robots, you’re missing the point. Synthetic life refers to actual biological living organisms.
How can such a thing be synthesized? To put this achievement into context, let’s examine the history of chemical synthesis. Up until the early 19th century, it was widely believed that living organisms, along with all the substances inside them, had some kind of special essence or life energy. This notion was called vitalism. However, in 1828, Friedrich Wöhler proved that this was not the case by synthesizing urea, a compound found in the human body. On that day, organic chemistry was born.
In the decades that followed, chemists learned how to synthesize various compounds, and by the latter half of the 20th century, this field had become incredibly sophisticated, thanks to an expansive understanding of the molecular world. In 1972, a team led by Robert Burns Woodward completed a landmark synthesis of vitamin B12, and other efforts have yielded the possibility of mass-producing compounds for use in medicine or as materials for the development of new technologies.
However, an echo of vitalism persists to this day. Some believe that if humans synthesize a natural product like a vitamin, it must be inferior to one made by nature. This is not true; nature builds these molecules just like we do, using its own biosynthetic pathways. But nature’s laboratory is inside living organisms, which are delicate systems that require specific conditions for chemistry to occur.
In our own laboratories, we have no such limitations. We can use a variety of materials and conditions to conduct chemistry, allowing us to explore possibilities that nature cannot. For this reason, we can often achieve the same products with greater efficiency. If two molecules have the same atoms connected in the same way, they are the same, regardless of how they were created.
From simple molecules, we learned how to synthesize large biomolecules like proteins and DNA. We developed techniques like solid-phase peptide synthesis, which makes it easy to synthesize any protein we want. The advent of CRISPR and gene editing technology has made it simple to edit DNA sequences. Now, Craig Venter and his team have taken the next steps in creating an entire synthetic genome consisting of only 473 genes, the fewest of any living organism. This genome, when expressed, takes the form of a single-celled organism that has never existed in nature, created by humans.
Synthetic life challenges the notion of vitalism. What chemists have known for almost two hundred years is now clear: the ingredients of life can be built by humans. Beyond synthesizing basic organic compounds, we can now create entire self-replicating living organisms from scratch.
What are the next steps? Synthetic microorganisms that rapidly consume carbon dioxide to counteract climate change? Others that produce clean fuels? Could we even create synthetic plants and animals, generating entirely new species from imagination? The possibilities are truly endless.
If you want to learn more about the topics described in this video, check out my channel, Professor Dave Explains, for tutorials in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, mathematics, and more. I’ll see you there. [Music]
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This version maintains the core ideas while removing any informal language or unnecessary repetition.
Synthetic – Relating to a substance made by chemical synthesis, especially to imitate a natural product – Researchers developed a synthetic version of the hormone to study its effects on cellular processes.
Biology – The scientific study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, evolution, and distribution – In biology class, we examined the cellular mechanisms that drive genetic inheritance.
Chemistry – The branch of science concerned with the substances of which matter is composed, the investigation of their properties and reactions, and the use of such reactions to form new substances – Understanding the chemistry of enzymes is crucial for developing new pharmaceuticals.
Molecules – Groups of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction – The study focused on how water molecules interact with proteins to influence their structure.
Proteins – Large biomolecules consisting of one or more long chains of amino acid residues, essential for all living organisms – The experiment aimed to determine how proteins fold into their functional three-dimensional structures.
DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material that is the carrier of genetic information in all living organisms – The sequencing of DNA from ancient fossils has provided insights into evolutionary biology.
Synthesis – The production of chemical compounds by reaction from simpler materials – The synthesis of complex organic molecules is a fundamental aspect of medicinal chemistry.
Organisms – Individual living entities that can react to stimuli, reproduce, grow, and maintain homeostasis – Microorganisms play a vital role in the decomposition of organic matter in ecosystems.
Carbon – A chemical element with symbol C, essential to all known life, forming the basis of organic chemistry – Carbon atoms form the backbone of organic molecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.
Climate – The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a region, influencing the distribution and behavior of organisms – Climate change is affecting the migration patterns of many species, altering ecosystems worldwide.
