Cynthia

Artificial Life Created - called Cynthia

Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell.

The researchers constructed a bacterium's "genetic software" and transplanted it into a host cell.

The resulting microbe then looked and behaved like the species "dictated" by the synthetic DNA.

The advance, published in Science, has been hailed as a scientific landmark, but critics say there are dangers posed by synthetic organisms.

The researchers hope eventually to design bacterial cells that will produce medicines and fuels and even absorb greenhouse gases.

The team was led by Dr Craig Venter of the J Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) in Maryland and California.

Consecrated Ironing

(when I came to do my blog today I found it was to be in the company of a lady of the house busy at her ironing)

It is a statistic that may get housewives across the nation hot under the collar.

Women do an average of 215 miles of ironing in their lifetime - the equivalent of eight marathons - according to a study.

That works out at 3.5 miles or two whole days of ironing every year.

Women spend the equivalent of two whole days a year at their ironing boards

While it's full steam ahead for the ladies, it seems men have more pressing matters to attend to.

They manage just 73 miles of ironing in a lifetime.

A poll of 3,500 adults also found that 45 per cent of men deliberately do a shoddy job with the iron in the hope that someone else will take over.

And a quarter of men confessed that they still got their mothers to do their ironing.

The poll also revealed the average person will iron 20 bits of clothing every week, including four pairs of trousers, 15 tops or shirts and a piece of underwear.

A spokesman for appliance maker Tefal, which carried out the study, said yesterday: "It's staggering to learn just how far we iron in our lifetime. But it's time for blokes to do their fair share."

"The fact we push our irons an arm-aching 215 miles really puts it into perspective.

"Ironing is part of our weekly chores and how well you iron and how your shirt looks can influence first impressions."

According to the survey, 3pm on a Sunday is the preferred time for many to press the bulk of their clothes.

A quarter of those taking part even said they found the task therapeutic.

One in five even admitted they enjoyed ironing, using it as an excuse to get away from their children, husband or wife.

However, more than half of those polled also admitted they had ruined clothes because of their lack of ironing skills.