Name: On the verge of creating synthetic life
Uploaded: 2008-03-06T01:38:00Z
Duration: 15 min 34 s
Description: "Can we create new life out of our digital universe?" Craig Venter asks. His answer is "yes" -- and pretty soon. He walks through his latest research and promises that we'll soon be able to build and boot up a synthetic chromosome. NOTE: This talk was given in 2008, and this field of science has developed quickly since then. Read "Corrections & Updates" below for more details.

"Can we create new life out of our digital universe?" Craig Venter asks. His answer is "yes" -- and pretty soon. He walks through his latest research and promises that we'll soon be able to build and boot up a synthetic chromosome. NOTE: This talk was given in 2008, and this field of science has developed quickly since then. Read "Corrections & Updates" below for more details.

Craig Venter: On the verge of creating synthetic life

On the verge of creating synthetic life

Venturing into synthetic biology, a leap from digitizing DNA to designing life offers solutions for fuel and vaccine production.

Synthesizing the smallest self-replicating genome, Mycoplasma genitalium, opens doors to understanding life's minimal components.

With 20 million genes as 'design components', synthetic biology could revolutionize energy, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.