Scientists creating artifical life in their labs promise world-changing benefits but are they playing God?

In “Frankenstein,” a living monster is assembled from scavenged human body parts and leftover animal remains.Throw together some chemicals, zap it with lightning, and voilà — it’s alive!In the real world, building life is infinitely more complicated, but harnessing life’s existing machinery might be key to solving many of our miseries.Scientists recently buzzed over SpudCell, a “synthetic cell” bioengineered to mimic the functions of living cells.

Assembled in the lab from biomolecules such as proteins, lipids and DNA, SpudCell promises many potential therapeutic benefits.But are we, like Dr.Frankenstein, playing God?Synthetic cells could serve as tiny delivery vessels to transport drugs directly into sick tissue.

They could be programmed to produce vital medicines, such as insulin, antibiotics and vaccines, within a patient’s body.Imagine artificial cells manufacturing anticancer drugs and then delivering them directly to a tumor — eliminating the need for chemotherapy or other dangerous treatments.Their potential benefits extend to the stars.

Long-term space exploration poses all sorts of medical risks.Artificial cells could heal astronauts when doctors aren’t around.

If a space cadet gets sick, all he’d have to do is open a packet of synthetic cells and add water — the necessary medications could be manufactured on demand.These little wonders could even be deployed into the environment to consume toxic chemicals or clean contaminated water.What could go wrong? A lot.For every positive use of synthetic cells, someone out there would create an evil use.Infectious biowarfare capabilities could be apocalyptic.

Or consider another foreseeable nightmare scenario where we produce synthetic cells that consumes oil to clean up spills.Everything is going gangbusters.

Until the cells find their way into the world’s oil reserves and eat those up too.The entire balance of nature could be overthrown.What if synthetic cells have better Darwin...