The Pentagon's advanced research division has allocated $6 million to create immortal synthetic organisms, which can die on command and keep a genetic record of what they have been doing, a report says.

Based on the 2011 budget of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the project, known as 'BioDesign,' aims to create artificial life, presumably with military purposes, Wired News reported.

The DNA of these genetically engineered organisms is altered to "produce the intended biological effect." These changes will ideally prevent cell death but induce the 'self-destruct option' in case of malfunction or falling into the wrong hands.

While genetic serial numbers enable the cells to be tracked, the genetic locks created in these "tamper proof" cells prevent enemies from reprogramming the cells.

"BioDesign eliminates the randomness of natural evolutionary advancement primarily by advanced genetic engineering and molecular biology technologies to produce the intended biological effect," the DARPA document stated.

DARPA scientists believe their findings will help "robust understanding of the collective mechanisms that contribute to cell death" so as to "enable a new generation of regenerative cells that could ultimately be programmed to live indefinitely."

The report said that the project received mixed reactions from experts who did not know what to make of it.