A unprecedented alert has been issued by a group of 38 renowned scientists, including several Nobel laureates, with a clear message: all research aimed at creating "mirror bacteria," a synthetic form of life that could pose an existential threat to life on Earth, must stop immediately.
So, what exactly are these mirror bacteria? Imagine looking into a mirror; your reflection is identical but reversed. Similarly, mirror bacteria are synthetic organisms made up of molecules that are the exact reverse of natural molecules. In nature, the molecules that make up living organisms have a specific orientation, known as chirality, which is common to all life forms on Earth. A mirror bacterium would be constructed with inverted versions of these molecules.
Experts warn about several major risks associated with mirror bacteria. Professor Vaughn Cooper from the University of Pittsburgh states that a synthesized mirror bacterium would be invisible not only to animals and plants but also to other microbes, including viruses that could attack and kill it. While mirror molecules have potential applications, such as developing more durable medications and effective biological production systems, researchers urge a clear boundary: no creation of complete mirror organisms!
