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Mirror Life: Are we creating untamable monsters on Earth?

Updated: Apr 22

By Ashley Tam,

Harrow International School, Hong Kong


As technology advances and discoveries are being made in the scientific world, it has become undeniably clear that innovation can come at an immense cost. Mirror life is no exception. While mirror life can lead to novel drug developments and therapeutics, on the flip side, if uncontrolled, it can lead to the extermination of all life forms. As researchers call for a halt to further development of mirror life and its capabilities, it leads us to question: Are we creating untamable monsters on Earth?


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What is mirror life?

All life forms on earth share the same chirality or handedness, chirality meaning that a molecule’s mirror image cannot be superposed on itself regardless of rotations, translations, etc., like how a right hand cannot be superposed on a left hand. Hence, molecules are seen as “left-handed” or “right-handed” by their chirality; DNA is exclusively “right-handed” while the amino acids forming proteins are “left-handed.” Mirror life attempts to reverse the chirality of molecules seen in nature, so DNA will become “left-handed” and amino acid forming proteins will become “right-handed.” As interactions between molecules rely on chirality, for example, antigens and antibodies, mirror life can be detrimental if successful as these interactions would be disrupted.


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What are some of the major concerns about mirror life?

Right now, mirror life does not exist as reversing the chirality of molecules cannot be formed naturally and must be synthesised in a lab. This process will require entirely new technology and science which we do not have access to today. However, the potential of mirror life has raised the concern of many researchers. The journal Science published a report by 38 researchers, four of them from Stanford University, who argued against pursuing the path of mirror life. In the study, researchers focused on mirror-life bacteria. One major concern raised by the study was that these synthesised bacteria that have the opposite chirality to bacteria found in nature will be able to avoid all the body’s immune responses and go undetected. This issue is extremely dangerous as these deadly, uncontrollable bacteria would be able to reproduce at exponential rates and can cause mass extinction of all life forms on earth.

 

Currently, the main purpose of developing mirror-life is to develop mirror proteins for therapeutic purposes, which has been quite successful as these mirror proteins are more resistant to degradation, making them longer-lasting treatments. However, the sheer threat of mirror organisms in general, especially mirror bacteria/pathogens cannot be ignored. If researchers who are experts in their fields are foreseeing a dangerous future with mirror-life technology, maybe it is a good idea to leave the initial research of the potentially catastrophic mirror-life behind so that these ‘monsters’ are merely a story, and not reality.

 

----Works Cited

Robinson, J. (2025, January 23). Pause work on “mirror life”, recommends panel of international experts. Chemistry World.


Kubota, T. (2024, December 16). A new report warns of serious risks from “Mirror Life.” Stanford Report.


Hughes, A. (2024, December 20). Scientists warn that “mirror life” could destroy life on Earth. read this before you panic |


Libretexts. (2023, January 23). Chirality and stereoisomers. Chemistry LibreTexts.

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