TimmyHCreating Cell Parts from Scratch
March 11th 2009 20:14
A newly made synthetic ribosome is an important step in the quest to create artificial life forms.
Researchers at Harvard University have built a functional ribosome--the cell's protein-making machine--from scratch, molecule by molecule. The creation represents a significant step toward making artificial life, and it could ultimately fill a major gap in our understanding of the origins of life. But the scientists who made the ribosome are most interested in its industrial applications. They plan to genetically tinker with the molecular machinery so that it can make proteins more efficiently, as well as proteins that are the mirror image of those ordinarily found in nature. Both improvements could be a major advantage in the pharmaceutical industry, among others.
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By Emily Singer
Protein factory: Shown here is the structure of a ribosome, the cellular structure that produces proteins. Scientists have now created a ribosome from scratch. Credit: NY State Deparment of Health
Read the whole article here:
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By Emily Singer
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