Scientists plan to create laboratory life-form

THE pioneer scientist who helped crack the human genome and a Nobel laureate last night announced plans to create a new life-form in a laboratory dish in an experiment that raises ethical and safety questions.

“We are wondering if we can come up with a molecular definition of life,” gene scientist Craig Venter said.

Mr Venter and Hamilton Smith hope to create a single-celled, partially man-made organism with the minimum number of genes necessary to sustain life in a project funded by a $3 million grant from the US Energy Department.