Two days ago, Science journal published an account of the work of Dr Craig Venter and associates in the USA who have succeeded in creating a genetic code from scratch and inserting it into a cell.

The artificial genome of 1.8 million DNA units – the basis of about 1,000 genes – was introduced into bacteria called Mycoplasma mycoides.

These organisms, with their new artificial home-made genes on board, have been able to reproduce normally.

They synthesise only the proteins which the new genes dictate.

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Dr Venter claims that this synthetic biology could allow scientists to create new fuels, new plastics etc. — the beginnings of “a new industrial revolution”.

Medical research may also be accelerated by synthetic microorganisms providing new ways of delivering nutrients, vaccines and medicines to the body.

But in the hands of politicians such biology could, of course, be used to create deadly pathogenic germs – hitherto unknown, incurable and useful for wiping out one’s enemies . . . .

So, like all blessings, this blessing is a mixed blessing — only as good as the morals of those into whose hands it falls.

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Looking further into the future, one can visualise true cyborgs becoming a reality.

Super bio-computers with artificially-created neurones resembling those of the human brain — super-intelligent, semi-synthetic, semi-human living beings?

Will they be conscious? Will they feel pain?

More importantly perhaps, will they have a relationship with God?

If they do, they may be just what we need to help us straighten out our ideas — before we destroy ourselves, our souls and our planet with our cleverness.