Artificial bacterium "Cynthia" (photo)

Throughout the history of our species, along with the man himself, weapons developed and improved. At first these were tools of labor, later - hunting adaptations. Cold, gunshot, traumatic, nuclear weapons are just a part of the fact that a person struggled for his life.

In the 21st century, the world was startled by rumors of a climatic and biological threat. And if the existence of climate weapons is not proven, then there is no doubt about the biological danger. Out of control artificial Cynthia bacterium that direct proof. Although, according to scientists, it was withdrawn exclusively for peaceful purposes.

What is it?

It is worth noting immediately, the bacterium "Cynthia" never existed in nature and could not appear without human help. Over its creation, 20 scientists were working, and the group was led by Nobel Prize winner Smith Hamilton. Just so many people needed to create a strain of mycoplasma, able to reproduce itself.

Initially, scientists took an intracellular organism, known as Mycoplasma genitalium, which contains 482 genes. With the help of his chromosomes, they created a bacillus with fully computerized DNA. The main task that should be performed by Cynthia is to actively process oil and quickly multiply.

We wanted better

In the spring of 2010, there was a major accident in the Gulf of Mexico. Sank oil platform, resulting in black gold began to enter the pond. The leak lasted more than three months. As a result, almost 5 million barrels of oil fell into the bay.

The bacterium "Cynthia" was supposed to eliminate the consequences of this terrible accident. In 2011, the bacillus was launched into the ocean. True, it is now said that the scientific community was not notified, and the bacterium was sent into the water too quickly, without proper preparation.

At first, the synthetic form of life did fulfill its direct duties. Scientists proudly watched as the oil slick became smaller. And the journalists managed to inform their readers about the invention of a biological purifier capable of ridding the ocean of dangerous oil for fish and animals. However, it soon became clear that the flammable liquid in this case is the lesser of the evils.

The bacterium mutated

Something went wrong fast enough. It was in the laboratory that an artificially created life form was fed only with oil products, in the bay the bacillus could taste other delicacies. After trying underwater inhabitants, the bacterium "Cynthia" mutated. The first to "chuck" was plankton, then the bacillus began to take on larger inhabitants of the sea.

In the body "Cynthia" gets through small wounds on the body. A special feature is its rapid multiplication. In a matter of hours, the bacterium corrodes the affected area and moves to "master" new territories. At the autopsy, it seems that the body has simply rotted from within.

Back in 2011, quite large US publications expressed their doubts about the primary function that scientists assigned to the bacterium. There were conjectures that, probably, "Cynthia" was originally conceived as a biological weapon, and it got to the ocean accidentally.

Who was in danger?

It all began in the Gulf of Mexico, but the bacterium quickly moved around the oceans. Including through rain clouds. Quickly came to the conclusion that in the mass death of birds and fish in Arkansas and North Louisiana is to blame Bacterium "Cynthia". A photo of the order of 100 thousand of surfaced fish flew around the world. Studies have shown that the victims most affected internal organs.

At the same time, an unknown disease struck the inhabitants of the Arctic and Alaska. Seals from a previously unknown disease began to die there. Veterinarians for a long time could not understand the reason: animals did not suffer from infections, radiation also did not seem to be. Then they decided to conduct more in-depth studies. However, the world still has not learned the real results.

Cynthia and man

A painful death also killed people who decided to swim in the Gulf of Mexico. Within a few days, ulcers appeared inside the organs, causing internal bleeding. People were dying just because they wet their feet in the bay. It's sad, but the age did not pay attention to "Cynthia" (bacterium). Photos of victims published in the media cause both compassion and disgust.

Eliminate the disaster, BP sent its people. According to unofficial data, and in this case, there has never been official statistics, 128 workers got infected with a bacillus, however, according to the contract, they were forbidden to contact public clinics.

Scientist-chemist Bob Naman in the same year 2011 explained that the bacterium enters the body through an open wound. At the same time, the risk of the disease is higher in women, due to the fact that they have more mucous membranes in the body.

Weapons of a new generation?

The question arises: if such sad consequences result from the peaceful use of a new form of life, what is the bacterium Cynthia capable of in time of war? Some scientists believe that such a biological weapon will, if not more terrible than an atomic bomb, then at least stand on one level.

And that's why:

• The bacillus reproduces itself and is able to multiply rapidly.
• It can not be destroyed (antibiotics on artificial DNA do not work).
• The bacterium can "travel" for long distances (for example, in the form of precipitation).

That is, hitting the human blood, it is almost 100% threatened with death. For example, even an amputation of a leg can not save a carrier of a bacterium. Another question is whether any nation will decide whether to use this biological weapon. After all, if the bacterium is so terrible, then everything will suffer from it.

Is there a threat to Russia?

Paying attention to the fact that oil spilled in 2010, and "cleaning" started in 2011, we can safely say that at the moment the bacterium "Cynthia" of Russia is not terrible. Otherwise, we would feel the consequences 5 years ago.

Roughly speaking, then all reasons to believe in a large-scale catastrophe were. As everyone remembers from the lessons of geography, the World Ocean surrounds all parts of the world. There are no borders and dams in it, and it is unlikely that they would have been saved from a small bacillus. Moreover, journalists were sure that then Cynthia swam to the Gulf Stream, which washes Europe.

Then all the panic news came to naught. And then there are two options: either the story of a terrible bacterium "inflated" from nothing, or scientists still managed to pacify it. If the second option is true, then in the event of war Russia, as well as all other countries, is in danger.

The answer of scientists

A group of scientists who have created an artificial bacillus, argue that the bacterium "Cynthia" is not involved in the horrors that were going on in the Gulf of Mexico and on the shores of the Arctic. According to them, this form of life is not capable of digesting animal protein. That is why she fed on oil, which is a product of plant origin, and eats.

On the one hand, such a statement removes responsibility from both scientists and the government, which allowed the launch of bacteria into the water. In support of these words, former US President Barack Obama, along with his family swam in the Gulf of Mexico. Time is also on the side of this statement. Since the disaster, more than 5 years have passed, and if the journalists who were causing panic were right, the immortal Cynthia would not stop on the dead seals.

On the other hand, there is a possibility that the topic was simply "hushed up" so as not to panic. Ordinary mortals do not know what scientists are doing in closed laboratories. In the end, when nuclear weapons were being created, they were not shouted about it either from the rostrum.