Artificial Life Likely in 3 to 10 Years

valdean writes: Microscopic artificial protocells, made from the basic chemicals in DNA, could be developed within the next decade. Once the protocell is made, 'if scientists add nucleotides in the right proportions, then Darwinian evolution could simply take over' — potentially creating entirely new organisms. Scientists even imagine expanding the four DNA bases (A,C,G,T) to twelve. But don't welcome our artificial cell overlords just yet. According to one scientist, 'When these things are created, they're going to be so weak, it'll be a huge achievement if you can keep them alive for an hour in the lab. But them getting out and taking over, never in our imagination could this happen.'