Mycoplasma laboratorium
Mycoplasma laboratorium is a planned partially synthetic species of bacterium derived from the genetic code of Mycoplasma genitalium. This effort in synthetic biology is being undertaken at the J. Craig Venter Institute by a team of approximately twenty scientists headed by Nobel laureate Hamilton Smith, and including DNA researcher Craig Venter and microbiologist Clyde A. Hutchison III.
The team started with the genome of M. genitalium consisting of 482 genes and 580,000 base pairs (the smallest known genome of any natural organism that can be grown in free culture), and systematically removed genes to find a minimal set of genes that can sustain life.[1] The team intends to synthesize chromosome DNA sequences consisting of these 381 genes. In 2003, the team had demonstrated a fast method of synthesizing a genome from scratch, producing the 5386-base genome of the bacteriophage Phi X 174 in about two weeks.[2] However, the genome of M. laboratorium is about 50 times larger. In January 2008, the team reported to have synthesized the complete 580,000 base pair chromosome of M. genitalium (Scientific name: Mycoplasma genitalium JCVI-1.0).[3], [4]
Once a version of the minimal 381-gene chromosome has been synthesized, it is intended to be transplanted into the nucleus of a M. genitalium cell to create M. laboratorium. The process of transplanting a (non-synthetic) genome from one Mycoplasma species to another was demonstrated by the team in June 2007.[5]
The resulting M. laboratorium bacterium is expected to be able to replicate itself with its man-made DNA, making it the most fully synthetic organism to date, although the molecular machinery and chemical environment that would allow it to replicate would not be synthetic.[6]
Venter hopes to eventually create bacteria to manufacture hydrogen and biofuels, and also to absorb carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The J. Craig Venter Institute filed patents for the Mycoplasma laboratorium genome (the "minimal bacterial genome") in the U.S. and internationally in 2006.[7][8] This extension of the domain of biological patents is being challenged by the watchdog organization Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration.[9]
Related publications
- Hutchison, Clyde A. (2005-11-29). "Cell-free cloning using {phi}29 DNA polymerase". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 102 (48): 17332–17336. doi:10.1073/pnas.0508809102. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - US Patent Application: 20070122826
References
- ^ Glass, John I. (2006-01-10). "Essential genes of a minimal bacterium". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 103 (2): 425–430. doi:10.1073/pnas.0510013103. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Smith, Hamilton O. (2003-12-23). "Generating a synthetic genome by whole genome assembly: {phi}X174 bacteriophage from synthetic oligonucleotides". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 100 (26): 15440–15445. doi:10.1073/pnas.2237126100. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Gibson, B (2008-01-24). "Complete Chemical Synthesis, Assembly, and Cloning of a Mycoplasma genitalium Genome". Science [Epub ahead of print]. - (-): -. doi:10.1126/science.1151721. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Genome stitched together by hand, Nature News, 24 January 2008
- ^ Wade, Nicholas (2007-06-29). "Scientists Transplant Genome of Bacteria". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
- ^ Ed Pilkington, "I am creating artificial life, declares US gene pioneer", The Guardian, October 6, 2007. Accessed October 7, 2007.
- ^ "Artificial life: Patent pending", The Economist, June 14, 2007. Accessed October 7, 2007.
- ^ Roger Highfield, "Man-made microbe 'to create endless biofuel'", Telegraph, June 8, 2007. Accessed October 7, 2007.
- ^ "First patent claimed on man-made life form, and challenged", World Science, June 7, 2007. Accessed October 7, 2007.