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Alondra Marin
Professor Sirajuddin
Biology 10
Writing Assignment
The work the researchers Alexander Mankin of the University of Illinois and Michael
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Artificial Ribosome. UIC News Center, 29 July 2015. Web. 29 July 2015.
<http://news.uic.edu/researchers-design-first-artificial-ribosome>