In a major leap toward creating artificial life, scientists have successfully synthesized six chromosomes out of 16 required for a yeast genome.
The feat belongs to researchers of the Synthetic Yeast Genome Project who are working on an artificial yeast genome creation.
The current milestone is a boost for the ultimate goal of the development of a full set of chromosomes, which would herald a big moment for lab-made life forms and pave way to creating genetic humans as well, maybe in the long run.
Significance Of Research
The research is special for its effort in synthesizing the first genome of a eukaryotic organism, the domain to which all living things, including plants, belong and where the cells contain a nucleus and organelles.
"We're essentially swapping out the code, if you will, in a living yeast cell with sort of a 21st century version of the operating system," commented project leader Jef Boeke, who is with the School of Medicine at New York University.
Yeast cells are used as a research model because they share many features with human cells and are simple and easy to study.
The development complements the strides made by scientists in recent times with regard to DNA editing by using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Scientists have already shown the feats of DNA engineering through outcomes like halting the browning of apples to thwarting HIV infection by editing out the virus from human cells.
"This is very exciting," noted geneticist George Church from Harvard University, who is not part of the research.
Research Procedure
Efforts to manipulate yeast have been on for thousands of years to make stuff like beer and bread. In this research, the end goal is to expose and untangle the genetic blueprint of yeast by creating a cell that is free from all defects and faulty designs.
One of the authors explained the research procedure.
"We had two design goals in mind," said Joel Bader, a biomedical engineer at Johns Hopkins.
He said the effort has been to answer biological questions such as how chromosomes can be made as well as why genes are configured and how best they can be designed for applied research as in small molecule drugs.
Currently, the focus is on producing yeast chromosomes that work at par with the natural ones with some extra twists like swapping genes for editing the DNA to delete redundant codes.
At the core of the achievement by scientists is a special software — BioStudio — used to develop synthetic versions of five yeast chromosomes. BioStudio tested for and fixed "bugs" in the code. For context, chromosome 3 of yeast was synthesized from scratch way back in 2014.
In making synthetic yeast chromosome, DNA building blocks such as cytosine, adenine, thymine and guanine were used. After developing each synthetic chromosome, the team replaced natural chromosomes in the cells and tested the yeast to ensure the efficacy of its functions.
Scope In Other Sectors
Currently, the aim is to create a synthetic genome of yeast leading to applications in vaccines, medicines, and biofuels.
However, the creation of a lab life with yeast can be a gateway to many other engineered designer organisms, in addition to drugs and biofuels.
Boeke quoted Richard Feynman for his words on physics to show the team's determination and enthusiasm.
"'What I cannot create, I cannot understand," Boeke said and added that this is the motto and spirit behind the research.
The study has been published in Science.
