Strikes me as the equivalent of coopting a computer with new software. But you started with an already-built computer. Who built that?
Not really sure it’s a threat refuting the existence of God.
Sometimes a science thread is just a science thread.
True. The other thing is that this isn't a ‘huge leap’ in genetic engineering. We've been inserting genes into E.coli for a long time. We've replaced nearly whole genomes in viruses multiple times - and use them as gene therapy vectors. This is just the same thing, generally, but using a bacterium instead of a virus. It's an exercise in ‘gee whiz’, ‘look a me’, ‘I did it first’. It's not, strictly speaking, scientific discovery.
“Hey, we scientists have figured out how to make life from dirt, just as described in that book of Yours, Genesis.
God: Oh yeah?
Scientist: Yep
God: Show Me.
Scientist: No problem!
So, the scientist started to gather some dirt, and just as he was about to start working with it, he was interrupted…
God: Hold it, stop!!
Scientist: What?
God: What are you doing?
Scientist: I’m gathering some dirt to generate life, just as described in Your book.
God: Get your own dirt…