Are these cells faker than you?

description:

Scientist are working on creating synthetic cells. Theses cells are being made to replace damaged or lost cells. The farthest that scientists have gone at this point is making artificial bacteria. The changes to science however are too numerous to count. These synthetic cells are just the start of a brand new age of science in which scientists will be able to create whole organisms.

The benefits to human culture would be that this could lead to making replacement body parts for those who have lost them. This could effectively cure many diseases that are caused by faulty cells. These are also being worked on to develop industrial bacteria which would help in the economy.

Benefits:

    Synthetic cells can greatly benefit the world by repairing damaged tissue, curing diseases, and regrowing limbs. Say someone damaged their spinal cord and became paralyzed. A synthetic cell could replace the damaged cells and give the person their movement back. No one would be restricted due to a disability. Diseases and disorders caused by mutations could be cured. The synthetic cell would replace the mutated cell the same way it did with the damaged cell. This could prevent mutations such as cancer. Lastly, synthetic cells, on a large scale, could regrow limbs. Since each limb is simply millions of cells, a limb could be grown with enough synthetic cells. This would greatly benefit amputees and victims of car accidents. This is how synthetic cells could benefit our world.

Risks:

    Though synthetic cells after being perfected would greatly help the medical field, the journey could be dangerous. Many things could go wrong in trying to create a synthetic cell. For instance, in creating a synthetic cell, a mutated cell may become present. If this flawed synthetic cell was tested, it would harm the person receiving the cell. They could be given a mental disorder, something that they are better off without. In another situation, the synthetic cell may be mutated into a cancer cell. The last thing the medical field needs is to accidentally insert cancer into one of their patients. This could ruin a person’s life. Lastly, the other cells may reject and attack the synthetic cell. This would not only waste a great deal of money, it would also distract the immune system from another threat. These are some of the risks synthetic cell research may bring.

Interviews:

Mrs. McKinney

Question- What is your opinion on synthetic cells?

Answer- Synthetic cells could save lives and be of great help in the medical fields. The belief that scientists are playing God is trumped by the benefits synthetic cells provide.

Question- Do you have any experience with synthetic cells?

Answer- I do not have hands on experience with synthetic cell, but I do understand what purpose they serve.

Mr. Rash

Question- Do you believe scientists are trying to play God in creating synthetic cells.

Answer- I feel like synthetic cells are like scientists are trying to play God. It would be better if scientists modified the pre existing cells instead of creating their own cell.

Question-What negatives do you fear may come from synthetic cells?

Answer- I have no fear about the end goal of synthetic cells, but I do fear what could happen during the journey. Cells may be damaged or mutated due to the synthetic cells during this process.

Mrs. Rosen

Question-What could you use a synthetic cell for?

Answer- Synthetic cells could be used to regrow limbs, cure diseases, and repair damaged tissue.

Reflection:

    Synthetic cells have the potential to change every stage of life. They can eventually be able to cure diseases, regrow lost limbs, and much more. The last thing that needs to be decided is whether this action is moral or immoral. Many consider this to be playing “God”, but it would be the duty of science to help those that need it. Synthetic cells is the perfect way to do that and that is why it is a moral act.

Citations-

1. Synthetic Biology: Benefits, Risks, and Regulations | Triple Helix Online. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://triplehelixblog.com/2013/09/synthetic-biology-benefits-risks-and-regulations/
2. Do the benefits of synthetic biology outweigh the risks? (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://geneticliteracyproject.org/2013/11/12/do-the-benefits-of-synthetic-biology-outweigh-the-risks/
3. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/synthetic-cell-is-a-giant-leap-for-science-and-could-be-bigger-still-for-mankind-1978869.html
4. Balancing Benefits and Risks of Synthetic Biology. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotechnology/lowrie.html