All moleculesmolecules which make up life, amino acids, proteins and even DNA have, in a way, “a hand”. A chiralitychirality insiders would prefer to say. Understand that scientists call them left-handed or right-handed. But they only exist on our Earth in one of these forms. Our DNA, for example, is exclusively right-handed. In other words, its spiral strands always turn to the right. Proteins, on the other hand, are left-handed.
It was this observation that sparked a somewhat crazy idea in the minds of a few researchers. Could we be able to create, for example, left-handed DNA that would challenge this established order? And what would this look like then? « vie mirrormirror » which, like our hands, could not be superimposed on the life we know? This is the question asked by these researchers who work on this form of synthetic life. Exciting !
Until a team led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh (United States) looked into the risks linked to the development of mirror bacteria. These synthetic organisms would present themselves with molecules all of reversed chirality compared to natural bacteria. And this is precisely what is now worrying experts, initially confident in immunology, plant pathology, ecologyecologyevolutionary biology, biosecurity and planetary sciences from 36 countries, authors of a 300-page report published in the journal Science. According to them, mirror bacteria represent a significant danger for the environment and for our health.
From mirror molecules to mirror bacteria
Let us first clarify that if some teams try to create mirror life forms, it is mainly today for therapeutic purposes. The molecules used by therapiestherapies classics are in fact recognized by our body. Our digestive enzymesdigestive enzymes tend to break them down. Sometimes even before they have time to act. Mirror molecules are not recognized by these enzymes. This allows them to persist longer in the body. Scientists know how to make it chemically, atomatom per atom. But mirror bacteria could make them directly in their place.
The problem, which the team led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh is discussing today, is that a mirror bacteria would also interact with the rest of our world in an unpredictable and uncertain way, with the risk that, not being sensitive to our antibioticsantibiotics and not detected by our immune systemimmune system – nor in nature by predators which traditionally limit bacterial populations – such bacteria can reproduce infinitely. The only thing that could slow them down is the lack of food that is suitable for them. But mirror bacteria, researchers fear, could also eventually develop the ability to eat our food quite quickly.
“Unless compelling evidenceemergingemerging that there are no extraordinary dangers, we should not create a mirror life”declares Kate Adamala, synthetic biologist at the University of Minnesota (United States) in the columns of Guardian. What she fears, in particular, is that scientists will have difficulty preventing their mirror bacteria from spreading in the environment. Because the accidentsaccidents laboratory arrive. And they could allow such bacteria to escape even from highly secure laboratories.
Discuss the risks posed by the development of mirror life before it is too late
The risk, however, is not imminent. Even with the involvement of the best specialists and the mobilization of many resources, the first mirror bacteria should not see the light of day for 10 to 30 years. For now, scientists are still far from being able to produce a mirror bacterial cell.
“This is incredibly difficult and new technologies will still be needed to achieve this”assures Michael Kay, professor in biochemistrybiochemistry and expert on the issue at the University of Utah (United States), in a press release. “But because these fundamental technologies are starting to develop and emerge, we thought it was not premature to open the debate. » Scientists have even already synthesized large mirror biomolecules. Proteins, for example.
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The mirror drugs under development are manufactured chemically. They are therefore not likely to present any of the dangers mentioned by the researchers and which exclusively accompany the creation of a self-replicating mirror bacteria. Scientists therefore validate the fact that work on mirror therapeutic molecules continues.
The researchers therefore plan to organize international conferences on the subject to discuss the risks inherent in research on mirror life. With the aim of defining responsible areas of research and limits that must not be crossed. “If a mirror cell were made, it would become incredibly difficult to put that genie back in the bottle. This is one of the main reasons why we want to think about preventionprevention and regulation well in advance of any real risk”concludes Michael Kay.
