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Synthetic life
"Scientists in the US succeed in developing the first living bacterial cell to be controlled entirely by synthetic DNA"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10132762.stm -
Mycotecture
"Mycelium doesn't taste very good, but once it's dried, it has some remarkable properties. It's nontoxic, fireproof and mold- and water-resistant, and it traps more heat than fiberglass insulation. It's also stronger, pound for pound, than concrete. In December, Ross completed what is believed to be the first structure made entirely of mushroom"