this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2024
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Summary

Leading scientists, including Nobel laureates, are urging a halt to research on creating “mirror life” microbes, citing “unprecedented risks” to life on Earth.

Mirror microbes, built from reversed molecular structures, could evade natural immune systems, leading to uncontrollable lethal infections.

While mirror molecules hold potential for medical and industrial uses, researchers warn that mirror organisms could escape containment and resist antibiotics.

A 299-page report in Science advocates banning such research until safety can be ensured and calls for global debate on its ethical and ecological implications.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago (13 children)

Yeah, knowing how fucky simple protein molecules can get when you flip the chirality (prions, which are essentially the root cause of Alzheimer’s and CJD and a few other neurodegenerative conditions), making whole-ass microbes on that principle without understanding what that could even mean sounds like a WILDLY insane idea.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 week ago (7 children)

As always, some people see Jurassic Park as inspiration and wonder why nobody gave Hammond a chance.

The rest of us know that Dr. Malcolm was right from the start.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Jurassic Park at least makes sense because dinosaurs are cool.

Opposite-chirality microbes, though? Nobody asked for that.

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