Top Italian cardinal: synthetic cell a sign of intelligence but ethics must be considered

Cardinal: synthetic cell requires need for ethics

ROME — A top Italian cardinal says the recent creation by researchers of the first synthetic cell is a sign of human intelligence but warns of the ethical responsibility of any scientific progress.

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the head of the Italian bishops’ conference, said Friday that the invention is “further sign of intelligence, God’s gift to understand creation and be able to better govern it,” according to Apcom news agency.

Bagnasco was commenting from Turin on the production of a living cell powered by manmade DNA.

Bagnasco added that “intelligence can never be without responsibility,” according to Apcom.

He said “any form of intelligence and any scientific acquisition … must always be measured against the ethical dimension.”