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First living thing with alien DNA created in the lab: We are now officially playing God
2014-05-08 18:22:01| Extremetech
Scientists have succeeded in creating the first organism with 'alien' DNA. In normal DNA, which can be found within the genes of every organism , the twin strands of the double helix are bonded together with four bases, known as T, G, A, and C. In this new organism, the researchers added two new bases, X and Y, creating a new form of DNA that has never occurred in billions of years of evolution on Earth or elsewhere in the universe. Remarkably, the semi-synthetic alien organism continued to reproduce normally, preserving the new alien DNA during reproduction. In the future, this breakthrough should allow for the creation of highly customized organisms -- bacteria, animals, humans -- that behave in weird and wonderful ways that mundane four-base DNA would never allow.
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Category:Information Technology