Thought some folks might be interested in this comment on the Synthetic Genomics experiment from my sister who used to be a genetic researcher by profession and has published several scientific papers involving the genetic study of retinitis pigmentosa in mice and the genetics of aging:
'The order of the base pairs A-T G-C, the "plans", were done on a computer, but I expect that plan to make the DNA came from all the research on genetics and genomes, not "right out of his head". The strings of DNA that code for genes were produced on a sequencing machine, using nucleotides, that, gosh, are obtained from nature. Life wasn't "created from nothing by man"; a viable cell with its nucleus removed was used, and the DNA, the genes, from the sequencer that would allow it to keep surviving and divide were microinjected into it. This was just putting together technologies that have already existed for awhile. The new part was creating completely artificial genes from their components, not using a template from nature, or genes removed from one organism and put into another.'

That's my sis, one smart cookie.
