Synthetic biologist views the genome as the cell's operating system. The hardware, including ribosomes and other parts of the translational and transcriptional apparatus, carry out the instructions contained within this OS. Traditional genetic techniques have allowed us to alter the code and alter the cell in useful and informative ways, but these are limited to manipulation of existing sequence. With a synthetic genome, this limitation disappears. Dramatic alterations of genetic content and arrangement become possible, and totally novel designer genes can be included. Designing and building synthetic genomes that function properly will be a true test of our understanding of cellular molecular biology.
At the Venter Institute we are designing and building a synthetic version of the Mycoplasma genitalium genome. With only 482 protein-coding genes and 43 RNA genes, this bacterium is the simplest known cell capable of independent growth and replication. Importantly, its 580-kilobase circular chromosome is small enough ...
