Although the following news appears to have been confirmed by Craig Venter, it should be viewed as rumor until there is an official announcement. The Guardian is reporting that Venter and a team of scientists have created artificial life, in the form of an artificial chromosome that can make use of another organism’s cellular machinery for replication and metabolism, but will effectively be a new, artificial species. According to The Guardian an official announcement is “expected within weeks and could come as early as Monday.”
Source: The Guardian, “I am creating artificial life, declares US gene pioneer“, Saturday, October 06, 2007