Researchers propose light test to identify synthetic mirror organisms

Researchers at the universities of Strathclyde and Durham have proposed a light-based test to detect synthetic “mirror life”, organisms built from molecular forms opposite to those found in nature. Although such organisms have not been created, scientists warn they could evade the immune defences of known life, making detection an important biosecurity challenge.

The proposed assay uses fluorescent dyes that bind to cell components and produce distinctive circularly polarised light signals, which could help distinguish ordinary cells from mirror cells. The researchers say the signals could be read with relatively simple existing optical technology. They plan to test the approach using safe, non-mirror organisms, but say they need funding to assess its accuracy and risk of false alarms; they estimate a demonstration could be possible after about a year of intensive development.