5 ms·
I think the main breakthrough here is that these nucleotides are not only unnatural but that the host can actually duplicate them; the E coli in this experiment
by ucarion 12y ago
I think the main breakthrough here is that these nucleotides are not only unnatural but that the host can actually duplicate them; the E coli in this experiment passed the new nucleotides to 24 child cells.
- fixermark 12y agoAnd also, "When the supply of foreign nucleotides ran out, the bacteria replaced the foreign bases with natural ones." This could have interesting implications in the theory of the origin of life; with DNA/carbon-based life shown to be adaptable to slightly different forms of the chemicals it needs in the deepest levels of genetic encoding, the set of initial conditions that could give rise to the life we see today grows.