Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Life uses 4 DNA letters. Scientists just made 8 work

sciencedaily.com · 10dShare

Researchers at UC San Diego have demonstrated that a key cellular enzyme can accurately read an eight-letter genetic alphabet, doubling the four letters used by all known life on Earth. Detailed imaging revealed that RNA polymerase handles synthetic DNA letters in surprisingly similar ways to natural ones. The finding brings scientists closer to building expanded genetic systems that could perform entirely new biological functions.

First report: Eight-letter DNA alphabet is accurately transcribed by a natural enzyme — phys.org, 13d