Scientists are warning of a man-made bacteria that could pose a major threat to all life on Earth.
All molecules considered to be the basis of life, such as DNA, proteins and carbohydrates, contain a unique structural feature that has so far increased the concern of scientists.
Experts are worried because the “mirror bacteria” have a unique structure that is different from all other living things. If they are not handled carefully, they can harm ecosystems, human health and the environment.
DNA and RNA are made of “right-handed” molecules, while proteins are made of “left-handed” amino acids. This chirality or handiness of life’s molecules determines their chemical reactivity and interactions with other living substances.
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But the “mirror bacteria” are different. They will be fundamentally different from all known life. These artificial bacteria, with their unique properties, can escape natural predators such as viruses and germs that keep bacterial populations in check.
According to the report, microbiologist Van Cooper of the University of Pittsburgh in the US said that the synthesized mirror microbe is not only invisible to animals and possibly plants, but also to other germs, including viruses that can attack and kill it.
Scientists warned that this could enable these hypothetical life forms to spread easily between ecosystems, putting humans, animals and plants at constant risk of infection.
Although the threat is still just an idea, scientists say it is serious enough to deserve caution. They want to ensure that scientific progress and public safety go hand in hand.
The “mirror bacteria” have a special protein structure that cannot occur in nature. To make it, scientists would have to create it in the laboratory. But that too will require some major advances in science.
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Dr Patrick Kay, a leading scientist at the University of Manchester, warns that ignoring the potential dangers of “mirror bacteria” could have serious consequences.
“We cannot ignore the possibility that ‘mirror bacteria’ could spread rapidly through ecosystems, causing deadly infections in many plants, animals and even humans,” he said.
Even with concerns about the bacteria, scientists say some related technologies could still be useful for advancing medical research.
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