Scientists have taken laboratory chemicals and produced synthetic DNA. This DNA should be sufficient to allow a bacteria to live, and reproduce. Shortly, these same scientists will denucleate a bacterium and insert their synthetic DNA and in essence create the first artificial life form. It is akin to cleaning out a computer’s hard-drive and putting in a new operating system.
The molecules are minuscule, but the questions loom large. To a creationist: can the created become creators? To the atheist: in a universe without a creator, can there be creators? Paradoxically, the answer to both would appear to be yes.
I’ve always held that science and religion were approaching the same territory from opposite angles. Today’s finding would appear to suggest that we’re approaching their final destination: meaning.