First semi-synthetic organism with 'alien' DNA created
![First semi-synthetic organism with 'alien' DNA created First semi-synthetic organism with 'alien' DNA created](https://cdn.editage.com/insights/editagecom/production/styles/detail_page_image/public/EFirst%20semi-synthetic%20organism%20with%20alien%20DNA%20created.jpg?itok=M8hKLdsg)
Researchers from the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif., created a semi-synthetic microbe, a genetically modified E. coli bacterium. They created two new nucleotides, X and Y, and fused them into the E. coli bacterium. The E. coli bugs grew and reproduced normally but with six -- instead of the standard four -- nucleotides, meaning it genetically passed along the first combination of manmade and natural DNA. Potential uses of the technology include the incorporation of a toxic amino acid into a protein to ensure that it kills only cancer cells.
Read more in Nature.
Published on: May 14, 2014
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