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'Artificial Life' breakthrough welcomed by Scottish Humanists

The Humanist Society of Scotland (HSS) has welcomed the development of the first synthetic living cell which was announced yesterday.

Clare Marsh from HSS said:

"This is a significant development for science however it also provides further proof that humans developed as a result of evolution and not from a god as some would try to lead us to believe.  We at HSS would like to congratulate Dr Craig Ventor on this significant scientific breakthrough.

HSS has held a long-term interest in such scientific developments and has a Bioethics Sub-committee within the organisation which monitors and considers associated issues within the modern day context. However, Ventor's development of the first synthetic living cell has already attracted some criticism from other scientists who have accused him of 'playing god'.

Marsh continues:
"It is important that the ethical arguments surrounding this breakthough are not clouded by the religious lobby, rather the focus should remain very much about the scientific benefits and how the technique is used for the better good."

As well as providing significant medical breakthroughs with new drugs and treatments, the potential of the development of synthetic live cells could provide alterntatives to the use of oil and reverse some of the damage to teh environment by capturing carbon dioxide.

www.humanism-scotland.org.uk

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