Organisms created with synthetic DNA: A Path for Entirely New Life Forms

We can all agree that science has gone through quite the journey. Though many things have been around far longer than we have, it is still an amazing discovery whenever we find something new. From finding new species to erecting old fossils and bones, the pursuit of discovery is something that humanity has gone through from time immemorial. When we create, however, is something truly of its own playing field. Discovery and creation gladly go hand in hand, and while we still have a long way to go in terms of discovery, what we've created so far is nothing to scoff at. Some would say that the creation of organisms with synthetic DNA is but the next stepping stone to scientific greatness.

Accoring to The Guardian, life on Earth has always been the same story, having a DNA code of four letters: G, T, C, and A. But breaking news claims that organisms were created from synthetic DNA, meaning that this grants a bridge to a whole new world of life forms. The difference between normal DNA and the synthetic DNA is that synthetic DNA has 2 more letter in their DNA code, X and Y. By adding two new molecules, Floyd Romesburg and his team at Scripps Research Institute in California were able to add this new synthetic DNA into bugs with the intention of the bugs creating new proteins to treat a range of diseases. 

Science Alert tells us that the breeding was done on samples of E. Coli bacteria. The two new letters allows for a myriad of things, but the fact that a new branch of organisms formed by introducing two letters into the strand means that it can create organisms with wholly unnatural abilities that can't be found in the wild. With this new pair added to the mix, the E. Coli bacteria are now healthy, stable, more autonomous, and can carry more information of the new synthetic base pair indefinitely. Thanks to the team, the possibilites with this new synthetic pair are vast and waiting to be discovered.

Tags

DNA, genetically-modified organisms, Synthetic DNA, E. coli

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