Science & Technology

Scientists begin effort to create artificial human DNA from scratch

By T.K. Randall
June 28, 2025 ·  8 comments

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) 25 years after the Human Genome Project first mapped the molecules in human DNA, scientists are now beginning the mammoth task of creating artificial human DNA from scratch.

The hope is that this will make it possible to develop new treatments for incurable diseases, but there is a catch - such research could also make it possible to create biological weapons and there is also a concern that it could lead to fundamental changes in the DNA of future human generations.

"We are looking at therapies that will improve people's lives as they age, that will lead to healthier aging with less disease as they get older," said Dr Julian Sale of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge told BBC News.

"We are looking to use this approach to generate disease-resistant cells we can use to repopulate damaged organs, for example in the liver and the heart, even the immune system."The first step of the research will be to find a way to create increasingly larger blocks of DNA until it is possible to create a full human chromosome.

"Building DNA from scratch allows us to test out how DNA really works and test out new theories, because currently we can only really do that by tweaking DNA in DNA that already exists in living systems," said Prof Matthew Hurles, director of the Wellcome Sanger Insititute.

Making sure that this research isn't misused, however, is of paramount importance.

"The genie is out of the bottle," said genetic scientist Prof Bill Earnshaw.

"We could have a set of restrictions now, but if an organization who has access to appropriate machinery decided to start synthesizing anything, I don't think we could stop them."

Source: BBC News | Comments (8)

Tags: DNA