Venter: He says he is close to creating a synthetic organism
In a Hardtalk programme first broadcast on Wednesday, 24th October 2007, Stephen Sackur talks to the controversial genetic scientist, Craig Venter.
Evolutionary biologists tell us life on earth began in an ancient primordial soup.
Those of a religious persuasion believe life to be a divine creation.
But now human beings are contemplating a scientific and philosophical leap: engineering new forms of life in a laboratory test tube.
Craig Venter is the world's best known and most controversial practitioner of synthetic biology.
Stephen Sackur asks him whether our species is ready to play God.
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