Successfully synthesizing DNA of eukaryotes

Recently, a team of scientists at New York University has announced it was able to successfully synthesize the chromosome set of eukaryotes for the first time and sow it into activity inside a yeast cell. The result is a new yeast with superior properties and promises to open many practical applications for humans.

The study, published in the journal Science, reveals to all of us how scientists can seed a set of eukaryotic chromosomes from early materials.

Artificial biotechnology has gone a long way over the years. In just two decades, scientists have gone from synthesizing relatively small viral genomes, hepatitis C virus to date, researchers have been able to successfully synthesize cells. artificial from unicellular organisms. However, a problem that scientists have not yet been able to synthesize the most important genetic component: The chromosomes of eukaryotes . The chromosome set of eukaryotes is contained within the nucleus of animal, plant, and yeast cells.

Scientists decided to plan to build a set of eukaryotes from the original constituents."We have created a whole new set of chromosomes instead of a copy," says molecular biologist Jef Boeke of New York University, co-author of the study . which we created is based on a real version but edited and redesigned by computer software, the components of the chromosome are optimized for the best health and best properties " .

Careful initial planning allowed researchers and more than 60 students to design and assemble DNA components together. The next step is to seed the chromosome into a living yeast cell. The researchers changed more than 500 positions in the chromosome to create a yeast that has "superior properties" than normal.

One of the most important additions is the gene called "Cre" . This is the gene that controls the production of Cre protein, which is responsible for mixing and synthesizing itself into new chromosomes when exposed to estrogen - the human sex hormone. This technique is called the "the scrambling approach", which allows scientists to rearrange the structure of the chromosome at will within the living yeast cell. To control the design process, scientists only need to change the concentration of estrogen in the cell.

Boeke explained: "Thanks to this method, you can delete or duplicate any gene to create a whole new genome even a completely new genetic sequence."

In the first phase of the study, the scientists wanted to use genetic methods to create a new yeast that could withstand many different environmental conditions and be able to make the fermentation process more efficient. . If this becomes true, it will open up countless possible applications in typical human life such as beer fermentation or bread making.

Boeke said: "I think in the next 10 years, we will see many biological products made from improved bacteria and yeast. There are so many useful applications that you can made with yeast ". This step allows for the creation of many biological products such as therapeutic or similar fuels for diesel engines but more efficient than current synthetic fuels.

However, the research process has not stopped here. Scientists still have to study more about the method effect on yeast cells. The reason is that yeast is not only one chromosome. In fact, yeast has up to 16 sets of chromosomes.

Boeke said: "We are still not sure that it will create a revolution in the industry when it is just reorganizing a single chromosome. Our ultimate goal is to be able to redesign everything. all 16 chromosomes in yeast cells, then we will be completely in control of applications that yeast can do. "

If scientists can redesign the structure of all the yeast chromosome sets to create a new transcendent yeast, this is really a revolution for many industries.

Some comments have questioned the impact of "gene control" on humans. However, the research team disagrees with the above comments and still maintains its views. Boeke said: "Unless you control the genetic apparatus of fruits, seeds or animals, that's a completely different problem. In contrast, our research is more selective when you can. greeting the yeast genetics system "

In addition, Boeke added that this is a natural intervention mechanism, when the chromosomes have been mixed beyond the allowed limits, it has the ability to erase itself, destroy itself and fungi. yeast will die. This has minimized the danger of interfering with the genetic system of yeast.