Cell

Although the year 2010 has not yet been half way through, I believe we just saw the most influential scientific paper this year:

Gibson DG, et al. Creation of a bacterial cell controlled by a chemically synthesized genome. In: Science Express on 20 May 2010.

Oh, the happening was simple. This group made an entirely artificial bacterial cell, which is capable of continuous self replication. In other words, this is the first time man creates life.

I shall not join the debates on whether scientists are playing too much the role of the god this time, whether we are going to create monsters in the near future, or whether the technique would be abused. (Well, what scientific technique could not be abused ?)

But, my very question is, if this synthetic species of bacteria continues with the evolution, and, millions of years later, became creatures that could think and act independently, should they obey to the command of Homo sapiens or descendants of the principal investigator of this research project (Craig Venter, an American biologist) ?