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Comment by nemomarx | Hacker News Reader

what exactly would we usefully get from doing it?

The primary proposed benefit of creating mirror-image organisms is as a means to mass-produce mirror-image forms of molecules that are produced by normal life. Mirror-image molecules have been studied for several decades and may offer a range of potential applications. There is broad agreement among scientists that it is important to distinguish between mirror-image molecules and whole mirror-image organisms. Some scientists argue that chemical synthesis methods are sufficient for creating mirror-image molecules without posing the potentially catastrophic risks of mirror-image organisms.

Potential applications of mirror-image molecules include:

Enantiopure drugs: Some pharmaceuticals show different activity depending on enantiomeric form.

L-ribonucleic acid aptamers: Artificial oligonucleotides that are constructed from the mirror-image versions of their natural forms. L-RNA aptamers are highly resistant to degradation by nucleases and are currently being tested in clinical trials.

L-glucose, enantiomer of standard glucose: Tests showed that it tastes likes standard sugar, but is not metabolized the same way. However, it was never marketed due to excessive manufacturing costs. More recent research allows cheap production with high yields; however the authors state that it is not usable as a sweetener due to laxative effects.

[From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror-image_life]

As a diabetic, I would love "mirror wheat" which behaves like normal wheat (ie can make breads, etc) but has zero carbs/calories because the body can't digest it. Mirror glucose would be nice too, though allulose is already a pretty close stand in for mirror glucose.

We already make L-sugars, but they have strong laxative effects.

Sounds like a mix of fiber and gluten to get bread-like structure? But then again, if it doesn't deliver carbs, what would be the point?

Same point as zero sugar sodas... Enjoyment of the flavor even though it provides no nutrition or energy

It would be very helpful for keto diet stuff too, since breads are basically most of the carbs and calories you eat in a lot of meals

I do worry that much mass not being digested would be trouble for you though.

Depends. If it's sugar alcohols they can be a problem. If it's basically fiber, it depends on your microbiome if you do well on those fibers or not. (Also, some fiber like charcoal can be constipating.)

We already make use of "mirror" molecules; the idea is that mirror organisms could help efficiently create these for us (like how we can use yeast and fungi etc to create various chemicals).

Of course there is also the whole potential apocalypse scenario

I had read somewhere that it could allow the creation of cures that would not trigger the immune system, since they would use chirality to hide, so to speak.

Yes, we will work on life forms undetectable to the immune system. For uh, checks notes cures. Disregard the fact that the imperial military runs our society.

;) you don't want a little goa'uld that will brainwash you?

A stronger understanding of organic chemistry.

Stuff our immune system doesn't recognize is potentially useful for things like vaccine delivery. But it's also useful for a potential pathogen.

I don't like the idea of creating microorganisms our immune systems can't recognize.

weapons

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