Protocell research and its implications.
If and when protocells exist, they will exhibit three requisites for life: regeneration, replication, and evolution. Based on a recent collection of articles, this essay examines two major questions: (1) should research on development of protocells continue, and (2) what are the implications of this research for our understanding of "life."On the first question, I agree with contributors that the research should continue if there are adequate and ongoing safeguards against its misuse. On the second, I believe that creation of protocells is highly likely to escalate, rather than settle, controversies about the meaning and value of life, especially human life.
Mahowald
Mary B
MB
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago, 5841 S.Maryland Avenue,MC 2050, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. mm46@midway.uchicago.edu
D001675:Bioethics; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D002477:Cells; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological