Scientists create a viable semi-synthetic organismJanuary 24, 2017 - 12:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute have already created organisms with synthetic DNA letters, but they weren't ready for the real world when they couldn't even keep the artificial base pair in their genetic code. However, the team has made a lot of progress since then: they've produced the first stable semi-synthetic organism, Engadget said. The bacteria now holds on to its human-created X and Y bases while it grows and divides, much like the natural A, C, G and T bases. The key, researchers say, was to tweak existing techniques. At first, they fine-tuned a nucleotide transporter (which carries the materials needed to copy artificial base pairs across the cell membrane) so that it wouldn't make the bacteria "sick" while using the new letters. They also made their Y letter easier to copy. And as a sort of insurance, the scientists used CRISPR gene editing to make their organism reject genetic sequences that don't have X and Y -- it's effectively impossible to lose the synthetic data. You're still a long, long way from seeing this hybrid life used for practical purposes. It's only useful in single-celled organisms, and you can only make it store gene info. It's another matter entirely to get this data into RNA, let alone to produce complex organisms. So long as there's progress, though, Scripps sees a bright future ahead. Eventually, you could use these letters to create new functions that help with discovering new medicines and "much more," Engadget said. Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |