Experts warn that mirror bacteria, constructed from mirror images of molecules found in nature, could put humans, animals and plants at risk of lethal infections

Summary

Leading scientists, including Nobel laureates, are urging a halt to research on creating “mirror life” microbes, citing “unprecedented risks” to life on Earth.

Mirror microbes, built from reversed molecular structures, could evade natural immune systems, leading to uncontrollable lethal infections.

While mirror molecules hold potential for medical and industrial uses, researchers warn that mirror organisms could escape containment and resist antibiotics.

A 299-page report in Science advocates banning such research until safety can be ensured and calls for global debate on its ethical and ecological implications.

  • Th4tGuyII
    3•9 hours ago

    Exactly this!

    For the most part Pathogens and even GMOs are only present an environmental threat in their living form, and once properly sterilised, can be disposed of safely.

    These mirror organisms would be dangerous in living and dead form, as they’d be chuck full of mirror proteins and biological molescules, any of which could trigger an environmental disaster if released by accident, so they’d have to be completely destroyed to be safe.

    Without proper regulations to ensure proper safeguards are in place, continued research into these organisms is plain dangerous

    • @[email protected]English
      -2•8 hours ago

      These mirror organisms would be dangerous in living and dead form, as they’d be chuck full of mirror proteins and biological molescules, any of which could trigger an environmental disaster if released by accident

      where are you getting this from? dead bacteria don’t come back to life