Critics Fear University `Creating Tools for Frankenstein Species'

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Byline: Robin Turner

FEARS have been raised that ``thinking'' micro robots at a Welsh university could get out of control and create Frankenstein species.

Critics are concerned that the self-replicating tiny machines, which are smaller than a single cell and are made at a nanotechnology centre in Swansea, could form an ever-expanding ``grey-goo'', contaminating human or plant cells.

They have been angered that scientists are coaxing atoms to reassemble themselves to mimic cancer killing drugs or to form new materials.

But experts at Britain's newest nanotechnology centre claim there are enough safeguards to prevent anything and becoming a danger.

Dr Peter Singer of the Centre for Bioethics at the …