Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA have created a strain of Escherichia coli which has DNA made from A, T, G, C and two additional nucleotides they are calling X and Y. While these bacteria are not using these new genes to transcribe RNA or translate protein, they have successfully replicated the DNA containing these added nucleotides.
The idea is to expand the possibilities of synthetic proteins which could be biologically engineered in the future. Just like synthetic insulin is used today to reduce the cost to diabetics, this new genetic research could lead to other synthetic proteins which could be used in healthcare and/or manufacturing.
Read the original article here:http://www.wired.com/2014/05/synthetic-dna-cells/
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