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Alondra Marin

Professor Sirajuddin

Biology 10

July 29, 2015

Writing Assignment

The work the researchers Alexander Mankin of the University of Illinois and Michael

Jewett of Northwestern University have accomplished is making headlines recently.Their study

which was funded by The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, The National Science

Foundation and The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Fellowship resulted in an amazing

accomplishment that has been unheard of. The ribosome is the point of focus in this man made

discovery.The ribosome is responsible for protein synthesis. It is made up of two subunits, a

large and a small subunit. Each subunit is built on its own RNA scaffold. Subunits have many

functions like; associating in initiation,rotating during elongation and dissociation after the

protein in relesed.The researchers engineered a tethered ribosome that works virtually as well as

a natural ribosome. The man made artificial ribosome is called Ribo-T. There is a possibility that

Ribo-T can be further manipulated upon in the laboratory. This leads the way for it to be

manipulated to be able to go far beyond the capabilities of the natural ribosome.

Furthermore, when the cell makes a protein messenger RNA is copied from DNA. The

large and small subunits of ribosome unite on mRNA. Here they make a working unit that

makes the protein. The protein is made in a process called translation. Once the protein molecule

is complete, both of the ribosomal subunits separate from each other. This separation is the norm

in natural ribosomes. But Ribo- T is different because its two subunits do not separate once the

protein molecule is completed.


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Indeed, Mankin and Jewett engineered a ribosome with the use of small tethers. They did

so by sharing the ribosomal RNA between two subunits that were connected with each other

with small tethers. This created a dual translation system. This meant that their RNA was able to

hold up once the assembly the ribosome took place. The Ribo-T is also able to support the

growth without wild-type ribosomes. No one has made something like this which is why both

researchers are amazed at their work. Ribo-T is extraordinary because it can produce proteins in

a test-tube, and it can also make protein in bacterial cells that do not have natural ribosomes

needed to keep the bacteria alive.

In addition, the creation of Ribo-T is of importance to the science community because it

is an accomplishment that was thought to be impossible. Previously scientists presumed that the

two subunits that usually separate in natural ribosomes needed to separate in order for protein

synthesis to occur. But Mankin and Jewett have proven them wrong. Protein synthesis was able

to occur with Ribo-T even as its two subunits were tethered together. There are many

possibilities for growth with the man made Ribo-T. For instance the Ribo-T which is being

called the protein-making factory could be able to enlarge the genetic code. Although this has

not occurred yet there is a possibility according to Ribo-T creators that it could be possible in the

future. Indeed, if that does happen it would benefit both synthetic biology and biomolecular

engineering by providing new opportunities for them. It is also important because it can make

proteins in a test tube. Traditionally proteins were made inside our bodies but by being able to

make them in test tubes scientists can help advance medicine or help people who do not have the

protein they need. Proteins are involved in everything that happens inside our cells. That is why

we need protein, but many people in third world countries suffer from protein deficiency. This is

a form of malnutrition which stunts growth, reduces immune function and increases risk to
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infection. It could be possible for Ribo-T to be used to possibly help many for those people to get

the proteins they need to be healthy.

Actually, the creation of Ribo-T is new but it is of relevance to my life because I am

taking a biology course which has opened up my mind to the many things that occur in biology.

As a student I connected the article to what I was taught in the lectures and it helped me realise

that biology is always growing. There are endless things to be discovered and it is all a learning

process. Although I am not a scientist this article was informative and considered with the

information we have covered in the last three weeks.

With regards to the author Sam Hostetter there was no identifiable bias. He addressed the

creation of Ribo-T and mentioned a few quotes of the two researchers. He did not give any

opinion in the articles. All the content available are facts. The article could be called one sided

since he was the only writer involved and no one questioned his portrayal of the creation of

Ribo-t. But in reality the author has a well put together article without bias and with credible

sources.

Above all, I chose this article because it sparked an interest in me. As I was browsing the

web I came across it. The title is appealing as it talked about ribosomes and proteins which are

two things I am familiar with because of my biology course. I knew I had to choose an article

that I held my attention. And this article did so by adding on to knowledge I already had and

adding on to it. Thanks to this article I learned that it is possible to make a ribosome that has its

two subunits tethered which will not separate once protein synthesis occurs. Furthermore I also

learned that proteins can be made in a test tube. In addition, I think the article needed more

information regarding the creation of Ribo- T. But besides that it was a great finding to come

across.
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Work Cited

Hostettler, Sam. "Researchers Design First Artificial Ribosome."Researchers Design First

Artificial Ribosome. UIC News Center, 29 July 2015. Web. 29 July 2015.

<http://news.uic.edu/researchers-design-first-artificial-ribosome>

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