Such an advancement in the biological field should be revered rather than feared.

Despite being able to do harm with such an improvement, who's to say that there won't be scientists who want to benefit humankind by applying this newly gained knowledge in areas unrelated to chimeras? Those who want absolutely nothing to do with bioterrorism? By accounting for the minority of scientists who may potentially use this new information purely for the sake of engaging in bioterrorism, one dismisses the fact that not all scientists want to dominate/destroy the planet. The many science-fiction stories involving a mad scientist with the intent of creating havoc upon the world presents only one out of the many possibilities for which biological advancements may be used for. For this reason I believe it is safe to say that for every "evil" scientist out there in the world, there will be just as many - if not more - scientists who prefer to do "good."

There will always be advantages and disadvantages in developing these advancements. Take drugs as an example. Needless to say, drugs can easily be taken for non-medicinal usages, i.e. for purposes that potentially endanger one's well-being. This is a clear representation of how developments in science can lead to disastrous consequences. However, in the end, one must ask: What about the many thousands or even millions of lives saved everyday by these drugs? Do we simply disregard these people and allow them to perish or do we push on and advance mankind's knowledge of science? Again, there will always be a numerous number of those who apply these drugs properly versus the minority of those who use the drugs for unhealthy purposes.

Venter is not necessarily inventing a chimera with this upcoming advancement in molecular biology. If he is, in fact, intending to synthesize a chimera for furthering bioterrorism, there will nevertheless be scientists who desire to perform the opposite by synthesizing forms that will be capable of aiding humankind, rather than harming. The ?dark? days of molecular biology will never truly be dark as long as there are those who understand that there must be ?light? for darkness to exist; those are the ones who painstakingly endeavor to further scientific knowledge and to benefit the rest of mankind through such accomplishments.