Science (AAAS) have been told that scientists will have the technology to create a wholly synthetic virus within the next five years. At present, synthetic microbes are still within the realms of science fiction, mainly because of the difficulties involved in synthesising long segments of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. However, experts believe that once this problem is solved, designer microbes will become a reality. Scientists hope that synthetic bacteria and viruses could be used to treat human disease, especially by aiding the development of gene therapy, as well as to manufacture drug components and genetically engineer plants and animals.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.bbc.co.uk on the 21st February 2001
