Synthetic Life "Breakthrough" Just Demonstrates Design | The Institute for Creation Research

Synthetic Life "Breakthrough" Just Demonstrates Design

Dr. Cameron Alexander of the University of Nottingham recently used polymers to build capsules that imitate bacterial cell walls. Bacteria can interact with these capsules, absorbing chemicals from them. In the May 29, 2008, article “Synthetic Copycat of Living Cell Underway: Life, But Not as We Know It?,” Science News quoted Dr. Alexander as saying, “These are very primitive steps in the lab, and still a long way from a true synthetic counterpart to a biological cell, but we have demonstrated that we can transfer certain molecules from inside the synthetic capsule to the bacteria when they are in physical contact, which is an exciting development.”

What do Dr. Alexander’s “very primitive steps” demonstrate?

Actually, the fact that bacteria can interact with manmade capsules contributes very little toward the creation of synthetic cells, although it may lead to medicinal breakthroughs and is therefore a worthy endeavor. The fact is that bacteria were designed to interact with their environment. They have a remarkable capacity, for example, to scour about for loose bits of DNA that may contain “software” to help them survive when stressed. Their ability to absorb certain molecules from a synthetic capsule placed in proximity to them does not necessarily mean that the capsule is anything like a cell. It may be cell-like, but that would be because of its shape, size, and makeup—all design features.

Building a synthetic cell might be impossible. It is comparable to building a large city’s worth of infrastructure—including communication, transportation, waste management, data processing, recycling, manufacture, and sanitation—all with invisibly small machines. Biblically, there is no mandate that precludes man from attempting to build bacteria. The exercise might just force investigators to discover new intricacies of bacterial design, or to learn something of the complex and precise constructions required to manufacture even these smallest of life forms. With all the effort required by intelligent men in their attempts to build life, hopefully more will see that time and chance are not genius enough to create even the simplest of organisms.

* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer.

Article posted on June 4, 2008.

The Latest
NEWS
Creation's Easter Message
While many Christians still consider the creation doctrine a fringe issue, a proper understanding of the Christian message finds creation at its core...

NEWS
ICR Veteran Don Barber Retires
Don Barber   After 34 years with the Institute for Creation Research, Director of Enterprise Technology Don Barber will retire...

CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
The Sanctity of Life | Creation.Live Podcast: Episode 23
Abortion is a big issue culturally and in the church. How can believers love our neighbors and act as the hands and feet of Christ when it comes...

NEWS
Plant Receptors Are Designed to Control Immunity and Development
God has designed plants to continuously track their environment.1 They do so with specially designed detectors (also called receptors) on...

CREATION PODCAST
Homo Naledi: The Lies Behind Evolution's Rising Star | The Creation...
Homo naledi, once evolution's 'rising star,' was considered to be a prime example of human evolution. But is it really proof? Or...

NEWS
A Subsurface Ocean on Mimas?
Scientists have analyzed data obtained from the Cassini spacecraft and concluded that irregularities in the orbit of Saturn’s moon Mimas indicate...

NEWS
In Theaters March 20 & 21: The Ark and the Darkness
Is Genesis true? What about Noah’s Flood? How did Noah fit the animals on the ark? Wasn’t it a local flood? Have you asked these questions? Though...

NEWS
Enigmatic Fossil Plants
The pre-Flood world thousands of years ago was unlike the world of today.1 Unfamiliar animals and plants were common, and there were a lot...

NEWS
Surprisingly Colorful Fossil Snail Shells
Finding organic compounds such as flexible dinosaur collagen and complete bone cells1,2 is becoming common, much to the shock and consternation...

NEWS
March 2024 ICR Wallpaper
"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:6 NKJV) ICR March 2024 wallpaper is now available for mobile, tablet,...