Home / Science / Synthetic Bacteria Syn57 Breaks New Ground in Genetic Engineering
Synthetic Bacteria Syn57 Breaks New Ground in Genetic Engineering
26 Aug
Summary
- Syn57, a lab-engineered E. coli, uses just 57 codons instead of the standard 64
- Syn57's unique genetic code makes it resistant to viruses and less likely to mix with natural organisms
- Syn57 could pave the way for new medicines, materials, and synthetic lifeforms
In a major breakthrough in synthetic biology, scientists have engineered a strain of bacteria with a genetic code unlike anything found in nature. The microbe, called Syn57, is a lab-made version of the common bacterium Escherichia coli.
Unlike all known life, which relies on 64 codons or three-letter DNA sequences to build proteins, Syn57 uses just 57 codons. This stripped-down genetic structure makes Syn57 resistant to viruses, which rely on the standard DNA language to hijack cells. It also reduces the chances of Syn57 mixing with natural organisms, easing safety concerns.
The creation of Syn57 demonstrates that life can survive with a much simpler genetic code, paving the way for new possibilities in medicine, materials, and synthetic lifeforms. Scientists are now working to improve Syn57's growth rate, which is currently four times slower than natural E. coli, in order to unlock its full potential.
