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Scientists building the world's first synthetic yeast | Scientists building the world's first synthetic yeast |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A UK team is building a synthetic chromosome to be inserted into the world's first synthetic yeast. | A UK team is building a synthetic chromosome to be inserted into the world's first synthetic yeast. |
Teams worldwide are making the other parts of its genome, which will be assembled to make the yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae. | Teams worldwide are making the other parts of its genome, which will be assembled to make the yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae. |
Once complete, new strains of synthetic yeast could help make products such as vaccines, biofuels and chemicals. | Once complete, new strains of synthetic yeast could help make products such as vaccines, biofuels and chemicals. |
The UK government has announced a grant of almost £1m towards the project, which aims to be complete by 2017. | The UK government has announced a grant of almost £1m towards the project, which aims to be complete by 2017. |
Synthetic biology involves assembling artificial genes to create new materials in a similar way that engineers build machines using many parts. Some even think it can form the basis of a new industrial revolution. | Synthetic biology involves assembling artificial genes to create new materials in a similar way that engineers build machines using many parts. Some even think it can form the basis of a new industrial revolution. |
Humans have successfully learnt to control many aspects of nature, from agriculture to artificial insemination - now the emerging field of synthetic biology appears next in line to take centre stage. | Humans have successfully learnt to control many aspects of nature, from agriculture to artificial insemination - now the emerging field of synthetic biology appears next in line to take centre stage. |
The world's first living cell controlled entirely by synthetic DNA was made in 2010, but this was in a bacterial cell without a nucleus; yeast is a much more complex cell. | The world's first living cell controlled entirely by synthetic DNA was made in 2010, but this was in a bacterial cell without a nucleus; yeast is a much more complex cell. |
Like humans and plants, yeast is a eukaryotic organism that contains complex structures that store DNA within a nucleus. It was picked as it only has about 6,000 genes which makes it small compared to other more complex organisms such as plants. | Like humans and plants, yeast is a eukaryotic organism that contains complex structures that store DNA within a nucleus. It was picked as it only has about 6,000 genes which makes it small compared to other more complex organisms such as plants. |
Computerised DNA | Computerised DNA |
Now a team around the world will make up the 16 chromosomes needed to complete the yeast genome, including researchers from the US, China and India. | Now a team around the world will make up the 16 chromosomes needed to complete the yeast genome, including researchers from the US, China and India. |
Chunks of DNA will be designed by teams on computers, which will then be synthesised by specialised companies. The teams will then assemble the pieces of DNA in a sequential manner and insert them into a yeast cell, first stripping out its natural DNA. | Chunks of DNA will be designed by teams on computers, which will then be synthesised by specialised companies. The teams will then assemble the pieces of DNA in a sequential manner and insert them into a yeast cell, first stripping out its natural DNA. |
Tom Ellis is leading the UK team with Paul Freemont, both from Imperial College London. Prof Freemont explained that building genetic structures such as chromosomes is a fundamental process for synthetic biology, where human features can be implemented into chromosomes to allow them to be manipulated. | |
"Yeasts have evolved over millions of years, making energy from sugars and excreting alcohol and carbon dioxide gas," he said. | "Yeasts have evolved over millions of years, making energy from sugars and excreting alcohol and carbon dioxide gas," he said. |
"Humans have adapted these organisms to their advantage, using their by-products to make alcoholic drinks and risen baked goods. | "Humans have adapted these organisms to their advantage, using their by-products to make alcoholic drinks and risen baked goods. |
"Now we have the opportunity to adapt yeasts further, turning them into predictable and robust hosts for manufacturing the complex products we need for modern living." | "Now we have the opportunity to adapt yeasts further, turning them into predictable and robust hosts for manufacturing the complex products we need for modern living." |
The work could help scientists gain a better understanding of human biology, Prof Freemont added. | The work could help scientists gain a better understanding of human biology, Prof Freemont added. |
"Yeast is a model organism we use to study cancer. It has the architecture and some of the coding regulatory systems we have. Therefore, it's a massive leap forward because these are individual chromosomes that have all the abilities to mimic the chromosomes in our own cells." | "Yeast is a model organism we use to study cancer. It has the architecture and some of the coding regulatory systems we have. Therefore, it's a massive leap forward because these are individual chromosomes that have all the abilities to mimic the chromosomes in our own cells." |
'Unparalleled opportunities' | 'Unparalleled opportunities' |
The international project is being co-ordinated by Prof Jef Boeke of John Hopkins University in Baltimore, US. | The international project is being co-ordinated by Prof Jef Boeke of John Hopkins University in Baltimore, US. |
He said that once complete, it would provide "unparalleled opportunities" for asking some profound questions about biology such as: "How much genome scrambling generates a new species? How many genes can we delete from the genome and still have a healthy yeast? And how can an organism adapt its gene networks to cope with the loss of an important gene? | He said that once complete, it would provide "unparalleled opportunities" for asking some profound questions about biology such as: "How much genome scrambling generates a new species? How many genes can we delete from the genome and still have a healthy yeast? And how can an organism adapt its gene networks to cope with the loss of an important gene? |
"Moreover, genome scrambling may find many uses in biotechnology, for example in the development of yeast that can tolerate higher ethanol levels." | "Moreover, genome scrambling may find many uses in biotechnology, for example in the development of yeast that can tolerate higher ethanol levels." |
David Willetts, minister for universities and science, said the work will impact important industrial sectors like life sciences and agriculture. | David Willetts, minister for universities and science, said the work will impact important industrial sectors like life sciences and agriculture. |
"This research is truly groundbreaking and pushes the boundaries of synthetic biology. | "This research is truly groundbreaking and pushes the boundaries of synthetic biology. |
"Thanks to this investment, UK scientists will be at the centre of an international effort using yeast - which gives us everything from beer to biofuels - to provide new research techniques and unparalleled insights into genetics." | "Thanks to this investment, UK scientists will be at the centre of an international effort using yeast - which gives us everything from beer to biofuels - to provide new research techniques and unparalleled insights into genetics." |