Scientists have developed the first cells that can construct artificial polymers from building blocks that are not found in nature, by following instructions the researchers encoded in their genes. The study also found the synthetic genome made the bacteria entirely resistant to infection by viruses.

The study, led by scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, in Cambridge, UK, also found the synthetic genome made the bacteria entirely resistant to infection by viruses.

The scientists say their research could lead to the development of new polymers — large molecules made of many repeating units, such as proteins, plastics, and many drugs including antibiotics — and make it easier to manufacture drugs reliably using bacteria.

The research, published today in the journal Science, builds on previous ground-breaking work by the team when, in 2019, they developed new techniques to create the biggest ever synthetic genome — constructing the entire genome of the bacterium Escherichia coli (E.coli) from scratch.

Using cells’ natural protein-making processes

The scientists’ goal was to utilise their new technology to create the first cell that can assemble polymers entirely from building blocks that are not found in nature.

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