Craig Ventors First Cell

Cr Craig Ventor beginning first self-replicating, synthetic bacterial cell ROCKVILLE, MD and San Diego, CA (May 20, 2010) Researchers at the J. Craig tummy comprise (JCVI), a not-for-profit genomic research organization, publish results today describing the successful kink of the first self-replicating, synthetic bacterial cell. The root word synthesized the 1. 08 million creation pair chromosome of a modified Mycoplasma mycoides genome. The synthetic cell is called Mycoplasma mycoides JCVI-syn1. and is the proof of principle that genomes can be designed in the computer, chemicly made in the laboratory and transplanted into a liquidator cell to produce a new self-replicating cell controlled only by the synthetic genome. This research will be published by Daniel Gibson et al in the May 20th edition of Science Express and will appear in an upcoming print issue of Science. For nearly 15 years overplay Smith, Clyde Hutchison and the rest of our group pay off been attaining t oward this publication todaythe successful completion of our work to construct a bacterial cell that is fully controlled by a synthetic genome, said J.Craig Venter, Ph. D. , founder and president, JCVI and senior author on the paper. We have been consumed by this research, but we have also been equally focused on addressing the societal implications of what we believe will be one of the most powerful technologies and industrial drivers for societal good. We look forward to continued review and dialogue intimately the important applications of this work to ensure that it is used for the benefit of all. According to Dr.Smith, With this first synthetic bacterial cell and the new tools and technologies we genuine to successfully complete this project, we forthwith have the means to dissect the genetic instruction set of a bacterial cell to see and understand how it really works. To complete this final item in the nearly 15 year process to construct and boot up a synthetic cell, JC VI scientists began with the accurate, digitized genome of the bacterium, M. mycoides. The team designed 1,078 specific cassettes of deoxyribonucleic acid that were 1,080 base pairs long. These cassettes were designed so that the ends of each desoxyribonucleic acid cassette overlapped each of its neighbors by 80bp.The cassettes were made according to JCVIs specifications by the deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis company, Blue Heron Biotechnology. The JCVI team employed a three interpret process using their previously described barm assembly system to build the genome using the 1,078 cassettes. The first stage conglomerate taking 10 cassettes of DNA at a time to build 110, 10,000 bp segments. In the second stage, these 10,000 bp segments argon taken 10 at a time to produce eleven, 100,000 bp segments. In the final step, all 11, 100 kb segments were assembled into the complete synthetic genome in barm cells and grown as a yeast artificial chromosome.The complete synthetic M. mycoid es genome was isolated from the yeast cell and transplanted into Mycoplasma capricolum recipient cells that have had the genes for its restriction enzyme removed. The synthetic genome DNA was transcribed into messenger RNA, which in put out was translated into new proteins. The M. capricolum genome was either destroyed by M. mycoides restriction enzymes or was lost during cell replication. After two days viable M. mycoides cells, which contained only synthetic DNA, were distinctly visible on petri dishes containing bacterial growth medium.The initial synthesis of the synthetic genome did not result in any viable cells so the JCVI team developed an error correction method to test that each cassette they constructed was biologically functional. They did this by using a combination of 100 kb natural and synthetic segments of DNA to produce semi-synthetic genomes. This approach allowed for the testing of each synthetic segment in combination with 10 natural segments for their capacity to be transplanted and form new cells. decennium out of 11 synthetic fragments resulted in viable cells therefore the team narrowed the issue down to a single 100 kb cassette.DNA sequencing revealed that a single base pair deletion in an requirement gene was responsible for the unsuccessful transplants. Once this one base pair error was corrected, the first viable synthetic cell was produced. Dr. Gibson stated, To produce a synthetic cell, our group had to learn how to sequence, synthesize, and transplant genomes. Many hurdles had to be overcome, but we are promptly able to combine all of these steps to produce synthetic cells in the laboratory. He added, We can now begin working on our ultimate impersonal of synthesizing a minimal cell containing only the genes necessary to sustain life in its simplest form.This will help us better understand how cells work. This publication represents the construction of the largest synthetic molecule of a defined structure the genome is al most double the size of the previous Mycoplasma genitalium synthesis. With this successful proof of principle, the group will now work on creating a minimal genome, which has been a goal since 1995. They will do this by whittling away at the synthetic genome and repeating transplantation experiments until no to a greater extent genes can be disrupted and the genome is as small as possible. This minimal cell will be a platform for analyzing the function of every essential gene in a cell.According to Dr. Hutchison, To me the most remarkable thing close our synthetic cell is that its genome was designed in the computer and brought to life through chemical synthesis, without using any pieces of natural DNA. This involved developing many new and useful methods along the way. We have assembled an amazing group of scientists that have made this possible. As in the teams 2008 publication in which they described the successful synthesis of the M. genitalium genome, they designed and insert ed into the genome what they called watermarks.These are specifically designed segments of DNA that use the alphabet of genes and proteins that enable the researcher to spell out words and phrases. The watermarks are an essential means to prove that the genome is synthetic and not inherent, and to identify the laboratory of origin. Encoded in the watermarks is a new DNA code for writing words, sentences and numbers. In addition to the new code there is a web address to send emails to if you can successfully decode the new code, the names of 46 authors and other key contributors and three quotations TO LIVE, TO ERR, TO FALL, TO TRIUMPH, TO RECREATE LIFE OUT OFLIFE. JAMES JOYCE SEE THINGS NOT AS THEY ARE, just now AS THEY MIGHT BE. -A quote from the book, American Prometheus WHAT I CANNOT BUILD, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND. RICHARD FEYNMAN. The JCVI scientists envision that the knowledge gained by constructing this first self-replicating synthetic cell, coupled with decreasing costs fo r DNA synthesis, will give rise to wider use of this powerful technology. This will undoubtedly lead to the development of many important applications and products including biofuels, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, clean water and food products.The group continues to drive and support ethical discussion and review to ensure a positive outcome for society. Funding for this research came from Synthetic Genomics Inc. , a company co-founded by Drs. Venter and Smith. Background The research published today was made possible by previous breakthroughs at JCVI. In 2007 the team published results from the transplantation of the native M. mycoides genome into the M. capricolum cell which resulted in the M. capricolum cell being transformed into M. mycoides. This work established the notion that DNA is the software of life and that DNA dictates the cell phenotype.In 2008 the same team reported on the construction of the first synthetic bacterial genome by assembling DNA fragments made from the fou r chemicals of lifeACGT. The final assembly of DNA fragments into the whole genome was performed in yeast by making use of the yeast genetic systems. However, when the team attempted to transplant the synthetic bacterial genome out of yeast and into a recipient bacterial cell, viable transplants could not be recovered. Ethical Considerations Since the beginning of the quest to understand and build a synthetic genome, Dr.Venter and his team have been concerned with the societal issues surrounding the work. In 1995 while the team was doing the research on the minimal genome, the work underwent significant ethical review by a panel of experts at the University of Pennsylvania (Cho et al, Science December 1999Vol. 286. no. 5447, pp. 2087 2090). The bioethical groups independent deliberations, published at the same time as the scientific minimal genome research, resulted in a unanimous decision that there were no strong ethical reasons why the work should not continue as long as the sci entists involved continued to engage public discussion. Dr.Venter and the team at JCVI continue to work with bioethicists, outside policy groups, legislative members and staff, and the public to encourage discussion and understanding about the societal implications of their work and the field of synthetic genomics generally. As such, the JCVIs policy team, along with the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), were funded by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for a 20-month study that explored the risks and benefits of this emerging technology, as well as possible safeguards to prevent abuse, including bioterrorism.After several workshops and public sessions the group published a report in October 2007 outlining options for the field and its researchers. Most recently in December of 2008, JCVI received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to examine ethical and societal concerns that are associated wit h the developing science of synthetic genomics. The ongoing research is intended to inform the scientific community as well as educate our policymakers and journalists so that they whitethorn engage in informed discussions on the topic.About the J. Craig Venter Institute The JCVI is a not-for-profit research institute in Rockville, MD and La Jolla, CA dedicated to the forward motion of the science of genomics the understanding of its implications for society and communication of those results to the scientific community, the public, and policymakers. Founded by J. Craig Venter, Ph. D. , the JCVI is home to approximately 400 scientists and staff with expertise in human and evolutionary biology, genetics, ioinformatics/informatics, tuition technology, high-throughput DNA sequencing, genomic and environmental policy research, and public education in science and science policy. The legacy organizations of the JCVI are The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), The Center for the Advan cement of Genomics (TCAG), the Institute for Biological Energy Alternatives (IBEA), the Joint Technology Center (JTC), and the J. Craig Venter Science Foundation. The JCVI is a 501 (c) (3) organization. For additional information, please visit http//www. JCVI. org. Media Contact Heather Kowalski, 301-943-8879, hkowalski(AT)jcvi. org