What is synthetic genomic?
Synthetic genomics is a field of biochemistry aimed at creating a genome - a complete gathering of the genetic or hereditary organism of the organism that is essential to maintain life. The genome of the organism is formed by molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which form the code. Parts of this code, called genes, control the formation and interaction of proteins in the cells of the organism, allowing the organism to function. In synthetic genomic, scientists manipulate and re -create genomes for research purposes or practical applications in medicine and biofuel production. Nucleotides and DNA sequences are manufactured artificially for various biochemical applications, but synthetic genomics is a more involved process. To create a functional synthetic genome, the natural genome Must to be fully known and either replicate or modify it so that no key functions are affected.
in 2010 was created by a research team based in J. Craig Venter inStitute in Rockville in Maryland the first synthetic bacterial genome. Bacteria, mycoplasma mycoides, have a genome consisting of one million pairs of bases. The team was able to replicate the natural genome of bacteria using synthetically produced nucleotides and introduce synthetic genome into a cell of another bacteria and replace DNA bacteria synthetic mycoplasma mycoides DNA. With the new genome on the spot, the cell began to function as a normal Mycoplasma cell mycoides, with all its intact functions.
Complications in genome synthesis can easily occur as a result of the complexity of the systems involved. For example, if one pair is in place or is missing, the cell does not need a function of the function. Similarly, the correct biochemical processes that the cell reads and implements information in DNA, and chemical interaction of the cellular environment with DNA.
synthetic genomic technology can be adapted to industrial and commercial applications such as biofuel production. Since 2011 some companies have been examining the possibility ofCreating synthetic algae, which are more efficient than naturally occurring algae in carbon dioxide to usable substances. Many scientists believe that engineering algae in this way can cause biofuel production more cost -effective and commercially viable.
Other projects in synthetic genomics include synthesizing only part of the body modification genome for use in industrial or scientific capacity. An example is the modification of plant genomes to make the crops more resistant to drought or pests. In medicine, microbes may be genetically changed as drugs for certain diseases or help in gene therapy.