Synthetic biology describes the use of chemically-synthesized nucleic acids to create life. The first successful instance of a completely synthetic organism was developed by Daniel Gibson in 2010 (1). Synthetic biologists continue to pursue the creation of a minimal organism, using only the bare minimum of components to maintain life.
- Gibson, D.G., et al., Creation of a Bacterial Cell Controlled by a Chemically Synthesized Genome, Science 2 July 2010: Vol. 329 no. 5987 pp. 52-56. PMID: 20488990