The recent discussion paper published in Science by Adamala et al. examines an emerging frontier of synthetic biology: the creation of “mirror life.” This concept involves organisms composed entirely of mirror-image biological molecules, a departure from the homochirality seen in all known life. While the field holds tantalizing possibilities, the paper paints a sobering picture of the dangers that mirror life could unleash.
What is Mirror Life?
In biological terms, “chirality” refers to the handedness of molecules, akin to how our left and right hands are mirror images but not superimposable. In nature, life is homochiral—DNA and RNA are right-handed, while proteins are left-handed. Scientists, however, are on the cusp of being able to synthesize entire organisms made from molecules with reversed chirality. These mirror organisms, if realized, would operate entirely outside the framework of Earth’s biological ecosystem.
The Allure of Mirror Life
The potential applications are significant. Mirror molecules resist degradation and immune responses, opening possibilities for more durable drugs and innovative therapeutics. They could also aid in basic research and provide insights into the origin of life. Yet, as the paper stresses, the creation of mirror organisms goes far beyond these applications and risks unforeseen consequences.
A Pandora’s Box of Dangers
The discussion paper underscores several critical risks posed by mirror life, particularly mirror bacteria. The authors write:
“Our analysis suggests that mirror bacteria would likely evade many immune mechanisms mediated by chiral molecules, potentially causing lethal infection in humans, animals, and plants. They are likely to evade predation from natural-chirality phage and many other predators, facilitating spread in the environment.”
Furthermore, the paper highlights the invasive potential of mirror organisms:
“We cannot rule out a scenario in which a mirror bacterium acts as an invasive species across many ecosystems, causing pervasive lethal infections in a substantial fraction of plant and animal species, including humans. Even a mirror bacterium with a narrower host range and the ability to invade only a limited set of ecosystems could still cause unprecedented and irreversible harm.”
The authors express particular concern about the ability of mirror bacteria to bypass natural containment mechanisms, stating:
“Biocontainment and biosafety approaches might be proposed to reduce these risks.
…
However, escape from these safeguards through evolution or human error could occur. Multiple auxotrophies would reduce but not eliminate the chance of escape.”
Why Pursue It?
Despite the alarming risks, the benefits of creating mirror organisms seem relatively limited. Alternative methods can already produce mirror biomolecules for therapeutic and scientific purposes without constructing living mirror cells. As the authors argue:
“Foreseeable benefits of the creation of mirror bacteria are limited. Mirror biomolecules have scientific and potential therapeutic applications that are worth pursuing; however, although mirror bacteria could plausibly help to manufacture them, such molecules can be made through other means.”
A Call for Precaution
Adamala et al. propose several urgent measures:
- Banning research aimed at creating mirror organisms.
- Enhancing oversight and regulation of enabling technologies.
- Monitoring purchases of materials essential for synthesizing mirror molecules.
- Convening global discussions to align governance strategies.
The paper concludes with a call for action:
“Unless compelling evidence emerges that mirror life would not pose extraordinary dangers, we believe that mirror bacteria and other mirror organisms, even those with engineered biocontainment measures, should not be created. We therefore recommend that research with the goal of creating mirror bacteria not be permitted, and that funders make clear that they will not support such work.”
A Responsible Path Forward
Mirror life research epitomizes the dual-use dilemma in science—technological advances that promise benefits while simultaneously posing severe risks. As we stand on the brink of realizing such life forms, the choices we make now will determine whether we safeguard the planet or unleash a biological revolution fraught with peril.
This discussion paper is not merely a warning; it is a plea for global foresight and action. The stakes are high, and the time to act is now.
H/T Roger Pielke Jr.
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Science is unfortunately rife with instances of attacking the challenge of “Can we do this?” to the exclusion of asking “Should we do this?”
Imagine mirror image Michael Mann and Naomi Oreskes attacking the real ones. Frightening.
Not sure it would (anti)matter to me.
Or they would be praising each other, like they are now. Thus doubling the nonsense.
For an example of this, I offer the gain-of-function research on bat viruses carried out at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
All it takes is another Fauchi. I’m sure there are several of that type hanging around in government jobs at any time :<(
Another example of way too many names on a paper- around 40.
“Mirror molecules resist degradation…”
Why would that be?
The simplest way to think about this is left handed screws don’t fit right handed threads.
The potential is huge if large carrier molecules targeting cancer cells are not recognized as hostile by the immune system for but one example.
How can they interact with cancel cells but not the immune system, if their mirror image aspect is what makes them incompatible with natural life?
Not the entire molecule need be L-chiral. Even then, recent leaps in molecular 4d modelling and AI there may be entirely L-chiral solutions.
Because most degradation occurs through breakdown by biological organisms such as bacteria and fungi. If some new creations of the sort discussed here are not usable by those ordinary organism of breakdown, they will be ignored, at best. Then if those same chiral organisms can have some of the abilities described here to interfere with normal biological processes, then things could be all the worse because combating them would not be possible through ordinary means.
I’m no biologist but I find it hard to believe that agents of decay won’t eventually enjoy eating organisms with mirror image chemistry.
Eventually may be the operative word. Agents of decay that possess the ability to break down mirror image chemicals don’t have much to eat now, but will if the mirror images become common.
The only possible upside it that I do not see how mirror beasties could digest normal proteins or other wrong handed molecules.
I was wondering the same thing about mirror life being able to digest normal life.
maybe not digest but, like many normal medical agents, attach to some specific bonds and render the receptors unavailable for ordinary processes, including neutralizing various infectious bacteria and virus. The potential difficulty is that other necessary metabolic materials might also be altered. Think of the Covid 2 parts intended to be utilized at the injection site to produce antigens that were found infecting cells in many other parts of the body.
Synthesizing mirror antigens and testing them against humanized rat immune systems should be a straightforward test of response.
Were the mRNA tests for Covid 2 very successful?
Yes. The vaccines have saved millions of lives.
I once read research into the possible use of enantiomers of sugar molecules as substitutes to allow for the sweet taste but would not be digested. Never heard if the idea was successful.
A sweet version of Olestra?
Common sugar consists of dextrose and fructose. Glucose is right handed. Fructose is left handed. Fructose is sweeter than glucose. But it is digested.
dextrose = glucose
but fructose is only utilized by the body in a different biochemical pathway that has distinct dangers for modern humans due to their low physical activity levels.
The question is: is there any funding in it?
I am confoozed. There seem to be two contradictory claims.
So what is it? How can mirror life be both invisible and unaffected by natural life, yet consume the same resources and attack natural life?
Some aspects of life are chiral. These include many parts of the immune system.
Other-handed enantiomers are invisible to that.
Some aspects of life are not chiral. They can be acted upon by either enantiomer.
It’s not a contradiction.
Yeah. Turns out that glycine is the only achiral amino acid. Anyway, making the mirror image of amino acids, proteins, etc. will be prohibitively expensive.
Years ago, ~1998, there were potato chips fried in an undigestible isomer of cooking oil on the market. Supposedly it was a safe way to avoid caloric intake. They tasted like potato chips, but there were issues. It wasn’t exactly diarrhea but it was close. I don’t remember when they were taken off the market, but I can guess why. Yes I did try some.
Short search turns up “Olestra” as the brand name of the cooking oil .
Beat me to it!
“The Warning Label Book” repeated the warning from a bag of potato chips.
“This product contains Olestra. Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools. Olestra inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. Vitamins A, D, E and K have been added.”
The book’s comment:
“It’s a potato chip!
No, it’s a laxative!
No, it’s a multivitamin!” 😎
or from vintage SNL: “It’s a floor wax! It’s a dessert topping!”
it slices, it dices, it really catches fish!
And then there are the wise words from “Jurassic Park”:
“Nature finds a way.”
Or from Mad TV, “with less anal leakage!”
Since the oil passed through your body undigested…
Apparently, Olestra consumers were distinguished by an oily patch visible in the seat of their pants. It’s little wonder the product never caught on.
Just because something could be done does not mean it should be. This is an excellent case.
Another good example is gain of function research funded by Fauci via cut out EcoHealth Alliance at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which gave the world COVID19 despite his perjured denials.
Serious fatal Prion diseases like Kuru, BSE, and CWD are simple ‘contagious’ neurological protein misfolds, not even mirrored proteins.
Fun factoid. Simple carbon nanotubes grow in three chiralities, two of which are not electrically conducting. Chirality obviously matters both in physics and biochemistry.
I wonder if Fauci is on the list of those Brandon is considering giving “preemptive” pardons?
(I said “preemptive”. I don’t remember if that’s the word being used. But how can you give a pardon to someone who hasn’t even been charged yet, let alone convicted?)
It would be fun if Brandon promises a bunch of pardons and then delivers none.
Has he not already delivered some hundreds?
I heard he commuted a lot of sentences, which isn’t a pardon.
His first pardon covered 10 years of whatever mischief may have occurred. Perhaps that kind of pardon could be challenged in court but maybe it is already accept case law.
The unintended consequences of that pardon are potentially catastrophic for Zhou Bi Den. Hunter can now be brought before a grand jury and ordered to testify about the activities of his coconspirators and will not be able to plead the fifth.
Don’t ban mirror proteins. They might have uses.
Do ban mirror life. It has no additional benefits (except maybe lower production costs for the proteins) but has risks similar to a novel virus.
I would like to ban the mirror ‘image’ I see each morning.
Decades the cover of Time or some other such magazine claimed they had “created Life in a test tube”. Closer examination showed they had started with stuff that that was already alive.
(Of course, the researchers may or may not have claimed they “created” LIFE, but the headline did.
“Decades the cover of Time or some other such magazine …”
Should have been, “Decades AGO the cover of Time or some other such magazines …”
That was NOT a deliberate use of the figure of speech, “Omission”.
It was more along the line of not omitting one too many beers. 😎
“we need to weaponize this NOW”
-every .GOV everywhere
Another Wuhan/Fauci moment in the making !
Wait, wait, don’t tell me! Is Nick Stokes mirror life?
Every seen those warped carnival mirrors !
In the Fun House!
Illness is caused by bacteria and viruses because they hijack or interfere with the cellular metabolism. If a mirror organism can evade the immune system, because the immune system can’t ‘see’ it, that is can’t interact with it, why then is it assumed that conversely the mirror organism can interact with the metabolic machinery of a cell? Or, to put it differently, if a mirror organism can infect it can also be detected by the immune system. A red herring?
Fishing for answers?
perhaps consider chemical binding to various receptors, no intention required.
What could possibly go wrong? I think this sounds like something the Wuhan Institute of Virology would like a shot at. Possibly with funding by Bill Gates with oversight by the People’s Liberation Army.
At least Fauci isn’t around anymore to fund this kind of insanely dangerous stuff.
There is always another Mengele or Fauci ready to do dirty deeds though seldom dirt cheap.
My problem is that I no longer have any confidence in the scientific and medical communities. After covid and climate change/global warming there is no reason to trust these people out of hand.
Hordes of mysterious drones are removing any confidence in the military and intelligence communities too. No reason to trust the government these days anywhere.
A lot of these “drones” seem to be normal air traffic. Lot of hype if you ask me.
Lewis Carroll already anticipated this argument. “Perhaps looking-glass milk isn’t good to drink.”
No treaty or international law will prevent come countries or some groups from pursuing such research.
No mention of Thalidomide although its chirality appears to have been the cause of birth defects, even in the U.S. where it was never approved.
See: Frances Oldham Kelsey
Personally. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Mirror organisms would also need mirrored food
to get by. Mirrored sugars, proteins with mirrored amino acids would be needed to feed them, and these are not just handily lying around. So they’d have to be equipped with enzymes capable of “inverting” natural biomolecules which is quite difficult. I don’t think such organisms would be viable outside a lab.