US scientist creates artificial life

A scientist in the US has created artificial life.

Biologist Dr J Craig Venter has produced a single-celled creature with is entirely man-made DNA.

The biological breakthrough has been compared with splitting the atom, but it has also been criticised as "playing God".

Dr Venter says his team's techniques will help mankind.

“We have ongoing funding to try and use these new synthetic DNA tools to perhaps make the flu vaccine that you might get next year,” he said.

“Instead of taking weeks to months to make these, they can now be made in less than 24 hours.”