Genome researchers have successfully transformed one bacterial species into another by replacing all of its DNA, according to a report published Thursday. Biologists at the J. Craig Venter Institute transplanted the entire genome, or set of DNA, from one species of Mycoplasma bacteria into another. About three days later, the DNA from the first bacterium had taken over the second so that it became indistinguishable from the donating bacterium, the scientists reported.
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Genome Switch Creates Bacterial Transformers
Posted by: Katherine Noyes June 29, 2007 11:54 AMGenome researchers have successfully transformed one bacterial species into another by replacing all of its DNA, according to a report published Thursday. Biologists at the J. Craig Venter Institute transplanted the entire genome, or set of DNA, from one species of Mycoplasma bacteria into another. About three days later, the DNA from the first bacterium had taken over the second so that it became indistinguishable from the donating bacterium, the scientists reported.