The bright and the dark sides of mirror biology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/KOSMOS.2024.002Keywords
chirality, mirror biologyAbstract
Synthesis of molecules that are mirror images of naturally occurring proteins and nucleic acids is a promising research direction because of their unique properties. They cannot be degraded by existing enzymes and usually are not immunogenic. However, currently, such molecules can only be obtained through chemical synthesis, a time-consuming and expensive process. Thus, attempts are being made to create a mirror bacteria that could produce such molecules. However, such bacteria, comprised of mirror proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids, would be a radical departure from the biology we know today. These microorganisms probably would have no enemies in the natural environment, while the immune systems of most organisms would be defenceless against them. While the research on the creation of such organisms is currently ongoing, the leading scientists in this field have called for a temporary ban on all research aiming to create mirror bacteria.
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