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27 March 2014 Last updated at 18:00
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Article written by David Shukman Science editor
More from David
Scientists hail synthetic chromosome advance
Comments (230)
Yeast is a target for synthetic biologists because of its potential for future industrial applications
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Scientists have created the first synthetic chromosome for yeast in a landmark for biological
engineering.
Previously synthetic DNA has been designed and made for simpler organisms such as bacteria.
As a form of life whose cells contain a nucleus, yeast is related to plants and animals and shares
2,000 genes with us.
So the creation of the first of yeast's 16 chromosomes has been hailed as "a massive deal" in the
emerging science of synthetic biology.
The genes in the original chromosome were replaced with synthetic versions and the finished
manmade chromosome was then successfully integrated into a yeast cell.
The new cell was then observed to reproduce, passing a key test of viability.
Yeast is a favoured target for this research because of its well-established use in key industries such
as brewing and baking and its potential for future industrial applications.
One company in California has already used synthetic biology to create a strain of yeast that can
produce artemisinin, an ingredient for an anti-malarial drug.
The synthesis of chromosome III in yeast was undertaken by an international team and the findings
are published in the journal Science (yeast chromosomes are normally designated by Roman
numerals).
Chucking the junk
Dr Jef Boeke of the Langone Medical Centre at New York University, who led the team, described the
achievement as "moving the needle in synthetic biology from theory to reality".
Start Quote
We have taught it a few tricks by inserting some special widgets into its chromosome
End Quote Dr Jef Boeke Langone Medical Centre
In an interview with BBC News, he said: "What's really exciting about it is the extent to which we
have changed the sequence and still come out with a happy healthy yeast at the end."
The new chromosome, known as SynIII, involved designing and creating 273,871 base pairs of DNA -
fewer than the 316,667 pairs in the original chromosome.
The researchers removed repeated sections in the original DNA and so-called "junk" DNA known not
to code for any proteins - and they then added "tags" to the chromosome.
Dr Boeke said that despite making more than 50,000 changes to the DNA code in the chromosome,
the yeast was not only "hardy" but had also gained new functions.
"We have taught it a few tricks by inserting some special widgets into its chromosome."
One new function is a chemical switch that allows researcher to "scramble" the chromosome into
thousands of different variants making genetic manipulations far easier.
One company has created a strain of yeast that can produce an ingredient for anti-malarial drugs
The hope is that the ability to create synthetic strains of yeast will allow these organisms to be
harnessed for a wide range of uses including the manufacture of vaccines or more sustainable forms
of biofuel.
While genetic modification involves transferring genes from one organism to another, synthetic
biology goes far further by designing and then constructing entirely new genetic material.
Opponents of the field argue that scientists are "playing God" by designing new forms of life with the
danger of unexpected consequences. A report for the Lloyds insurance market in 2009 warned that
the new technology could pose unforeseen risks.
The synthesis of chromosome III is the first stage of an international project to synthesise yeast's
entire genome over the next few years.
A team at Imperial College London is tackling chromosome XI, one of the largest with 670,000 base
pairs, using a similar technique of creating "chunks" of bases to insert into the yeast's genome.
New tricks
Dr Tom Ellis, who is leading the work, described the creation of the first synthetic chromosome for a
eukaryotic organism - the branch of life including plants, animals and fungi - as a "massive deal".
"Yeast is the king of biotech - and it's great to use synthetic biology to add in new functions.
"The fitness of the chromosome is in line with the natural one. Making all these design changes has
not caused any major issues - it behaves as it should - and it's great to see that others can do it."
The Imperial scientists have so far synthesised about one third of the DNA for their chromosome XI
with about 5-10% inserted.
Their research includes developing synthetic genes for yeast that would allow it to produce
antibiotics and to turn agricultural waste into biofuel.
With critics arguing that synthetic biology involves meddling in Nature with unknown effects, Dr Ellis
and others stress that the new organisms are designed with in-built restrictions.
The strains of yeast containing synthetic genetic material can only survive in a lab environment with
specialist support.
To highlight the benefits of the work, Dr Boeke stresses the importance of yeast throughout human
history and its potential for the future.
"Yeast has an ancient industrial relationship with Man - the baking of bread and the brewing of
alcoholic beverages dates back the Fertile Crescent and today the industrial relationship goes far
beyond that because we're making medicines, vaccines and biofuels using yeast."
The paper describing the first synthetic chromosome concludes with a far-reaching vision looking
beyond yeast to more sophisticated organisms, saying:
"it will soon become feasible to synthesise eukaryotic genomes, including plant and animal
genomes".
In his interview, Dr Boeke explained that this will not be immediate but is getting closer.
"It's still aways off in the future to do entire chromosomes for those organisms but certainly mini
chromosomes containing tens or even hundreds of genes are definitely within the foreseeable
future," he said.
It was only in 2010 that the scientific world was stunned when Dr Craig Venter unveiled the first
synthetic genome for bacteria. So this new science is gathering pace and growing in ambition.
Your comments (230)
Article written by David Shukman David Shukman Science editor
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Comment number 230.
Colski
28th March 2014 - 22:21
OMG.

Soon these scientists will be able to tinker with DNA as well as the aliens who visit from time to time.
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Comment number 229.
Jackson
28th March 2014 - 21:20
Exciting times, if it was 100 years ago I think I would class humans as stage0 civilisation but now with
maybe a stage 1 telephone system ( internet) and the new prospect of the SABRE engine to travel
across the globe at high speed and into orbit and now this, maybe there is a chance for mankind?
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Comment number 228.
Name not found
28th March 2014 - 20:26
Roll on Biomolecular regeneration and cellular biomechanical integration.

Quaker types please pile all your tech in the garden and burn it followed by destroying all medecine
you own and vehicles and ensure the wiring and plumbing in your hovel is removed for good
measure.

We cant have science advance now can we,good lord forbid if anyone was given a better life
because first steps are taken!
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Comment number 227.
Robert Lucien
28th March 2014 - 20:09
#224 mahatmacoat
"Chromosomes, Genetic engineering, D N A, G M food and crops all levels of experiments that will
alter the human race into mutants... frankensteins all, these people are delusional, insane scientists
destroying the only one planet we have, God Help Us All"

The smell. The hideous features. The fixation with bridges. Troll! Troll!, quick get the pitchforks and
burning torches...
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Comment number 226.
EchoFour
28th March 2014 - 19:48
Brilliant work, with many potential benefits for humanity. Oh, by the way, what's up with all the hate
on science? Is it so confusing that you have to kill it so you don't feel bad? Or do you think it's
'against god'? Well, if this 'god' created us, surely this 'god' would want the best? If not, then why
would you worship him? If so, why knock down science? Quod Erat Demonstrandum. Q.E.D.
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