A team of scientists from around the world collaborated to achieve a historic milestone: the creation of yeast strains with more than 50% synthetic DNA. This success, which represents the culmination of 15 years of research, not only marks a turning point in synthetic biology but also offers new perspectives on the potential of genetics in areas such as medicine, agriculture and bioenergy.
Synthetic genome: a long-term challenge.
As mentioned, the project Synthetic Yeast Project (Sc2.0) began several years ago with an ambitious goal: to create a fully synthetic version of the yeast genome. Yeasts, eukaryotic living beings, are more complex organisms than bacteria, which until now had been the only subjects of such synthesis experiments genetics.
In this research, six of the sixteen yeast chromosomes were fully synthesized. A milestone that demonstrates scientists' ability to redesign life itself.
The research, epochal for its implications, has been detailed in 10 different papers in scientific journals Cell, Molecular cells e Cell Genomics.
Beyond yeast synthesis: stabilization and innovation
One of the key aspects of this project was the elimination of large sections of repetitive DNA. Sections that do not code for specific functions but can cause significant structural variations. This maneuver not only increased the stability of the genome, but also gave scientists greater control over the genetic structure.
At the same time, the creation of a new chromosome entirely dedicated to the DNA sequences coding for transfer RNA (tRNA) represents another step towards a more stable and controllable genome.
Pushing the limits of biology
The research team experimented with radical structural changes, such as the fusion of chromosomes, the inversion of their “arms” and the incorrect folding of chromosomes. Surprisingly, yeast has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt, surviving and thriving despite these extreme changes.
A discovery that has important implications for our understanding of the plasticity and resilience of the eukaryotic genome.
“2.0” yeast: towards 100% synthetic DNA
The next step of the Sc2.0 project is even more ambitious: to assemble a yeast strain with a fully synthetic genome. Using an innovative technique, researchers have already created a strain with 7,5 synthetic chromosomes, exceeding 50% of the genome. With the last two chromosomes already synthesized, it is predicted that yeast will have an entirely artificial genome within a year.
In addition to the scientific significance, the practical implications of a yeast with a fully synthetic genome are enormous. Yeast is already used in a wide range of applications, from the production of food and drugs to biofuels and other useful molecules. With a fully engineered genome, yeast could be further optimized for these applications or even programmed to tackle new challenges, from regenerative medicine to sustainable bioenergy.
The creation of synthetic yeast propels us into a whole new phase of biotechnology, where the possibilities seem to be limited only by our imagination.
