The idea of “mirror organisms” is currently one of the most exciting and alarming topics in the scientific world. Imagine life forms that are created from molecules that are the mirror image of the ones that make up all living things around us. These mirror organisms would be built from “left-handed” amino acids and “right-handed” nucleotides, instead of the usual “right-handed” amino acids and “left-handed” nucleotides. It’s a concept that could revolutionise fields like medicine and biochemistry, potentially leading to breakthroughs in treating diseases or creating more efficient production systems. But, as fascinating as it sounds, there are some serious risks that have scientists seriously worried.Cooper, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Pittsburgh, puts it bluntly: these organisms could bypass the immune systems of humans, animals, and plants, causing lethal infections that spread rapidly.

According to a group of Nobel laureates and other top experts, the risks posed by mirror organisms are “unprecedented.” Prof Vaughn  He warns that these mirror bacteria “would likely evade many human, animal, and plant immune system responses and in each case would cause lethal infections that would spread without check.” This is a huge concern—after all, who would want to create something that could so easily go out of control? Should we really be taking the risk? Would you be willing to take that chance?

Dr Kate Adamala, a synthetic biologist at the University of Minnesota, was once working on creating these mirror organisms herself but changed her mind after looking more closely at the risks. “We should not be making mirror life,” she says, and urges that “we have time for the conversation.” That’s exactly what we need right now: a global conversation about whether we should even be moving forward with this kind of research. It’s hard not to ask, could we really be prepared for the unintended consequences of creating something so powerful? The potential dangers seem too great to ignore. Do you think we’re ready to handle something like this?

Even researchers who are excited about the possibilities of mirror molecules agree that we need to be cautious. Prof Paul Freemont from Imperial College London, while acknowledging the promise of mirror chemistry, stresses the need for an “open and transparent debate” on the topic. The question we all need to think about is: should we keep pushing forward with this research, or are the risks just too high? It’s a conversation that requires careful thought because, as things stand, the consequences of getting it wrong could be catastrophic. So, what’s your take on it—are the risks worth the potential rewards, or should we hit the pause button for now?

By Jin Chen, year 11 🙂

Research Source: Guardian