Venter institute claims patent on synthetic life

jimsnail writes: "Craig venter and his buddy's at the starship venterprise are boldly going into new territory again — seeking a broad patent that would give them ownership of a "free living organism that can grow and replicate" constructed entirely from synthetic DNA... World Science reports on it here : First patent claimed on man-made life form, and challenged . ETC Group are challenging it here and suggest this new 'syn' organism should have a name -they propose 'Synthia'. better suggestions?"