Cautious welcome to synthetic cell from Vatican

The Catholic Church has said that the creation of the first ever synthetic cell could be positive so long as the discovery is used “for the good of all”.

It was announced this week that researchers in the US had successfully replaced all natural DNA inside a cell with laboratory-synthesised DNA.

Monsignor Rino Fisichella, head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life, told the Associated Press that it was a “great scientific discovery”.

“Now we have to understand how it will be implemented in the future,” he said.

“If we ascertain that it is for the good of all, of the environment and man in it, we’ll keep the same judgement.

“If, on the other hand, the use of this discovery should turn against the dignity of and respect for human life, then our judgement would change.”

The research was led by Craig Venter of the J Craig Venter Institute and published on the website of Science journal this week.

Venter, who is also working with ExxonMobil on turning algae into fuel, denied accusations of “playing God”.

"That term comes up every time there is a new medical or scientific breakthrough associated with biology,” he said.

"It has been a goal of humanity from the earlier stages to try and control nature - that's how we got domesticated animals."