Is the creation of artificial life morally significant?

Highlights: [•] Artificial organisms need not pose greater risks than derived organisms. [•] The creation of artificial life would not support any form of biological reductionism. [•] Artificial life forms might have uncertain functional status. [•] But this is irrelevant to their moral status. [•] The genealogy of an organism makes no difference to its moral status. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]