Scientists are embarking on an ambitious five-year initiative called SynHG to synthesize human genetic code using raw chemicals. The Wellcome Trust is providing funding for the project through a £10 million grant.
Participating Institutions
Several leading institutions collaborate on the SynHG project. These include the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, and Kent, as well as Imperial College London. Jason Chin, from Cambridge's Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, leads the project.
Ethical Considerations
The emerging field of synthetic genomics raises significant ethical concerns. The potential creation of 'designer babies' is one such concern.
Potential Benefits
Despite the ethical considerations, supporters of synthetic genomics anticipate significant advances. They believe the project will deepen the understanding of human biology and facilitate the development of treatments for diseases currently considered incurable.
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