Scientists can create mirror molecules in laboratories but predict that developing mirror cells will take at least a decade. Mirror cells, if realized, could pose significant risks to life on Earth.
On a fundamental level, human beings, much like other living organisms, exhibit physical dominance. For example, most people have one dominant hand. At a molecular scale, life shows an extreme preference for handedness. All living DNA twists to the right, while proteins generally exhibit left-handedness. Life functions according to these chemical interactions.
In recent years, scientists have explored the concept of mirror versions of life. Currently, technology to create mirror life at a cellular level does not exist. It is expected that developing such technology will take over a decade. Despite the lack of immediate capability, concerns about the possible impact of mirror life are significant enough that scientists have released a comprehensive 299-page report urging a halt to this line of research.
In a recent Tech Camp episode, Regina Barber conversed with Carl Zimmer, a science reporter from The New York Times, on his explorations of mirror cells and potential threats they pose to Earth’s existing life forms.
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The episode production team included Jessica Yung and Berly McCoy, with editorial oversight by Rebecca Ramirez. Fact verification was handled by Tyler Jones, and Kwesi Lee engineered the audio.