Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:For decades, scientists have been building synthetic versions of viruses, bacteria, and yeast, but now U.K. scientists are setting their sights on the human genome. Building a synthetic genome would be much different than gene editing, which contains smaller edits to one’s own genome. While a synthetic human genome could dramatically improve our ability to manage our health, it could also be a deadly weapon if used for nefarious purposes. We’re going to synthesize the human genome. Of course, the human genome is leagues beyond these simple synthetic reconstructions, which is why the project scientists estimate that it could take decades to complete.