CAN HUMANS BE CREATED FROM CHEMICALS?

CAN HUMANS BE CREATED FROM CHEMICALS ?

(Information collected from newspaper Times of India)

     The answer to the above question from many scientists is yes. A synthetic human genome potentially could make it possible to create humans who lack biological parents- raising the spectre, for instance, of made-to-order human beings with special genetic enhancements. A group of 25 scientists on Thursday (02-06-2016) proposed an ambitious project to create a synthetic human genome, or genetic blue print, in an endeavour that is bound to raise concerns over the extent to which human life can or should be engineered. A synthetic genome would involve using chemicals to create the D N A present in human chromosomes.

     They said they hoped to get $100 million in public and private funding to launch the projet this year and expects total costs of less than $3 billion. According to scientists the project includes growing transplantable human organs, engineering immunity to viruses, engineering cancer resistance, and accelerating vaccine and drug development using human cells and organs. They would also consider ethical, legal and social implications on the project, which is likely to take a period of about 10 years. The new project would involve not reading but writing the human genome – synthesizing all three billion units of D N A from chemicals.

     But such an attempt would raise ethical issues. Could scientists create humans with certain kinds of traits, perhaps people born and bred to be soldiers? Or might it be possible to make copies of specific people? “Would it be okay to sequence and synthesize Einstein’s genome? All these matters need great consideration. Only future will reveal what is going to happen. 

HUMAN BODY INGREDIENTS

HUMAN BODY INGREDIENTS

Taken from plus.google.com by Michael Parker (Originally shared by Nass Daoud).

     The first four ingredients below are essential parts of body’s protein, carbohydrate and fat architecture.

1.      Oxygen ------ 65.0%

Critical to the conversion of food into energy.

2.      Carbon-------18.5%

The so called backbone of the building blocks of the body and a key part of other important compounds such as testosterone and estrogen.

3.      Hydrogen------9.5%

Helps to transport nutrients, remove wastes and regulate body temperature, also plays an important role in energy production.

4.      Nitrogen-------3.3%

Found in amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, an essential part of the nucleic acids that constitutes D N A.

Other key elements:

5.      Calcium--------1.5%

Lends rigidity and strength to bones and teeth, also important for the functioning of nerves and muscles and for blood clotting.

6.      Phosphorus--------1.0%

Needed for building and maintaining bones and teeth, also found in the molecule A T P (adenosine triphosphate) which provides energy that drives chemical reactions in cells.

7.      Potassium--------0.4%

Important for electrical signaling in nerves and maintaining the balance of water in the body.

8.      Sulfur--------0.3%

Found in cartilage, insulin (the hormone that enables the body to use sugar), breast milk, proteins that play a role in the immune system, keratin, a substance in skin, hair and nails.

9.      Chlorine--------0.2%

Needed by nerves to function properly, also helps to produce gastric juices.

10.  Sodium--------0.2%

Plays a critical role in nerves electrical signaling and helps to regulate the amount of water in the body.

11.  Magnesium--------0.1%

Plays an important role in the structure of the skeleton and muscles and found in molecules that help enzymes use A T P to supply energy for chemical reaction in cells.

12.  Iodine-------- (trace amount)

Part of an essential hormone produced by the thyroid gland, regulates metabolism.

13.  Iron--------(trace amount)

Part of hemoglobin which carries oxygen in red blood cells.

14.  Zinc--------(trace amount)

Forms part of some enzymes involved in digestion.