Intellectual Property & Your Health Series - Minimal cell concept

Source: Britannica

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Advances in synthetic biology

Minimal cell concept

The scientists at JCVI hypothesized that about 100 more genes could be removed from the M. genitalium JCVI-1.0 genome without sacrificing its function (although they were not sure which 100 genes). A genome of approximately 381 genes is believed to be the minimum size necessary to sustain life. The researchers planned to create this abbreviated genome, which they would then insert into a cell, thereby creating an artificial life-form. They planned to call this life-form M. laboratorium, and they filed a patent application for it. M. laboratorium would be used as a chassis upon which other genes could be added to create customized bacteria for numerous purposes, including as new forms of fuel or as environmental cleaners, capable of removing pollutants from soil, air, or water.

In 2016 the JCVI team created the smallest functioning synthetic cell up to that time, M. mycoides JCVI-syn3.0, which contained just 531,560 base pairs and 473 genes. JCVI-syn3.0, a genomically minimized version of JCVI-syn1.0, was produced using a combination of whole-genome design (selecting DNA and organizing it in such a way as to generate a functioning genome) and chemical synthesis. The synthesized genome was then transplanted into cytoplasm to test for viability. JCVI-syn3.0 successfully replicated and produced colonies that were similar in form to those of JCVI-syn1.0.

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