In todays time, science truely is rapidly growing, at every moment something new is being discovered. I didnt really realise until now how at fast pace it really is occuring. I was watching a documentary earlier on BBC 4 about 'The Cell', and well the first few episodes were mainly about the history of discovery of the cell and its contributors. In the last part, however, it showed new advancements being made in science (especially in Biology today), based around cell biology. During my a level biology course, we touched upon various aspects of biology. New topics from that (what i thought were still new) were Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. However, now i am proven wrong. There is new emerging field within biology that is gaining a lot of interest ....and that = Synthetic Biology. It almost seems to me like FRINGE science, but with its right implications it can prove to be pretty useful. What it is, is that a sysnthetic DNA is made (in Lab)...known as sDNA, with a specific (engineered) genetic code for a particular purpose. This is then inserted into a living vector (eg Bacteria), which reproduces and carries out the function of that DNA, producing SYNTHIA (new organisms as they have new DNA). But that is just the basics, NOW they are trying to re-create a Synthetic CELL (with all of its cellular components) which will carry out functions (producing new protiens) based upon the synthesised DNA. NOW that seems like FRANKENSTIEN science, but if not taking it into the wrong direction, i think it is pretty interesting stuff.
*This is the video i saw on Synthetic Biology*
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