Engineered Bacteria Thrive with Abridged Genetic Code

In a groundbreaking development, scientists have engineered bacteria that operate using a radically different genetic code compared to all natural species. Typically, the genetic code that forms the foundation of life is universal, with only minor variations across different organisms. However, researchers have now built microbes with a significantly smaller and less redundant code, challenging this long-held convention.

The new study, published in the journal Science on July 31, 2025, describes these engineered bacteria that can function with an abridged genetic code. Researchers say this remarkable feat demonstrates that a full genetic code is not required for life to exist and thrive. "Life still works," noted Wesley Robertson, a synthetic biologist at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England, and an author of the study.

The findings provide valuable insights into the fundamental nature of life and the role of genetic redundancy. Scientists have long debated the purpose of this redundancy, and the creation of these streamlined microbes offers a unique opportunity to explore these questions further. The implications of this breakthrough could have far-reaching impacts on fields ranging from biotechnology to evolutionary biology.