THE SECRET OF LIFE

"We have found the secret of life!" These words were spoken by Francis Crick in a Cambridge pub in february, 1953. And in many ways it was true. Crick and his partner, James Watson, told their scientific colleagues about their discovery. It was the double-helix structure of DNA.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) contains the recipe for life. DNA is what makes a dog a dog, and a tree a tree. It is what makes every human being different from every other. Crick and Watson's discovery opened a wonderful new field of scientific exploration.

It has revolutionized agriculture. Genetically modified (GM) crops are used throughout the world. Many people believe GM technology will bring an end to world hunger. It will be possible, for example, to produce crops which can grow in the desert. But others are worried that DNA fron GM crops might mix with natural species and produce "Frankenstein" plants which cannot be controlled.

Animals, too, are part of the DNA revolution. In 1997, scientists used a technique called "cloning" to create Dolly, a sheep which was an exact copy of its mother!. We can now clone an infinite number of the very best farm animals. There are even companies which, for a fee, will clone your beloved pet for you!

But is cloning right? Or are scientists "playing God"? Crick and Watson's gift to humanity was incredibly valuable, but it has raised some serious ethical questions.