US researchers created in a laboratory the smallest feasible genome existing in nature, that contains the number minimum of genes necessary for a body to function and autorreproduzca , a new breakthrough to unravel the mysteries of life.
the synthetic genome of this microbe called Syn 3.0 has only 473 genes. In comparison, a being human has around 20,000 and a Japanese flower called Paris japonica, with the largest known to date, has fifty times more genome.
the team accomplished this feat is run by Craig Venter, the pioneer of DNA sequencing, who also created the first controlled by a synthetic genome in 2010 organism.
researchers have created this genome to a minimum even have not been able to determine the functions of 149 of these 473 genes, one third of the total, as explained in their works published Thursday in the journal Science.
the creation of this endowed only with the genes needed for life to exist in its most basic cell, could help understand the role each absolutely essential to life gene, according to biologists.
“the best way to understand life is to create the simplest genome” said Craig Venter during a conference telephone press.
“If you do not understand how flies a Boeing 777, remove the parts one by one until the aircraft can not fly”.
this is the principle that the scientist and his team, including Clyde Hutchison, used with the genome of a bacterium Mycoplasma, known for having the smallest genomes of all living cells capable of self-replication.
genomes was created hypothetically minimalist eight different segments to try and identify to essential genes and those that are not.
During this process, the researchers also tried to identify the “most essential”, called genes necessary to ensure growth robust body, but are not essential for life.
to test these genes, scientists have inserted foreign gene sequences to disrupt their functions and determine which were necessary for the life of bacteria.
scientists repeated the experiment until they get smaller genome able to function.
His work also revealed that some genes, classified as “non-essential” perform certain functions that are essential and must be maintained in the genome for life.
Almost all genes necessary for reading and expression of genetic information, and the preservation of information and its transmission between generations are also conserved in the genome .
Many of them have been found in other organisms, suggesting that might encode universal protein whose functions have not yet been defined, according to the researchers.
Scientists consider the creation of this minimum artificial genome significant progress.
“this is an important step in creating a step living cell whose genome is fully defined “ said Chris Voigt, a biologist at the Institute of Technology of Massachusetts (MIT) in Cambridge (US northeast).
However, adds the scientist, remains define the role of these 149 genes that remain unknown Syn 3.0 and promise to bring new information on the biological basis of life.
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