UK scientists embark on synthetic human genome project
UK researchers just kicked off the Synthetic Human Genome Project (SynHG), a £10 million, five-year effort to build tools for making fully synthetic human DNA.
Their first big step? Creating an entire human chromosome from scratch.
Project dives into genome's 'dark matter'
Instead of just editing genes, SynHG dives into the genome's "dark matter"—the mysterious regions that could hold keys to health and disease.
The team hopes their work will open doors to new cell therapies, virus-resistant organ transplants, and even hardier crops.
Scientists from top UK universities are all in on this ambitious journey.
Researchers are also looking into ethical concerns
SynHG isn't just about science—they're funding research into the ethical side too, making sure society's concerns are heard along the way.
Experts admit there are risks but reassure that we're nowhere near creating synthetic humans or anything scary like biological weapons.
Responsible innovation and transparency are at the heart of this project.