Ireland could take lead in designing organisms

IRELAND could be to the forefront in designing new organisms in the drive to create life-saving drugs as well as energy sources, leading bioscientist Dr James McInerney has claimed.

He believes that US scientists who have succeeded in creating the first synthetic life form will make it easier for their Irish counterparts to convince investors to spend money on developing new products.

“We could have a centre where leading pharmaceutical companies and start-up companies could get a bioinformatics analysis and then go and make new drugs and other kinds of biotechnology products,” said Dr McInerney.