In a story that sounds more like the plot of a science-fiction movie, the L.A. Times reported yesterday that scientists have for the first time have constructed the entire genome of a bacterium, using off-the-shelf chemical compounds. This breakthrough is a key step toward their ultimate goal of creating synthetic life forms.

According to a referenced article that appeared in the journal Science, the man-made DNA was nearly identical to the natural version on which it was based -- with minor modifications to identify it and render it harmless to people.

What's next for this synthetic DNA? Combining it with living cells, of course. The research team at the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Md., is now trying to insert the artificial DNA inside a living cell with the hope that it will take over its host and become the first synthetically created, self-replicating organism.

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