This could be the beginning of a whole new life form.
The natural genetic alphabet of terrestrial life is limited by two pairs of bases
adenine thymine (A-T) and guanine-cytosine (G-C).
All the diversity of life on the planet is programmed, copied and reproduced
using DNA droplets formed by only four nitrogen bases of nucleotides.
These bases are the same for everyone - for an oak, a penguin, a butterfly,
and a man, they are only arranged in a different order.
It was until 2014, when scientists from the Research Institute constructed
the first living organism with six bases based on E. coli bacteria.
The two main pairs A, T, G and C were supplemented by a synthetic pair
of X and Y, which functions together with natural pairs.
Now they have the world's first semi synthetic organism, with a genetic code make up
of two natural base pairs and an "alien" base pair.
This semi synthetic organism a stable form of semi synthetic life, and lays the fondation
for efforts to impart life with new forms and functions.
Theoretically, such organisms are capable of storing and transmitting more information through DNA than ordinary organisms.
And this opens the door for achieving the fundamental goal of synthetic biology: the creation of new life forms and new synthetic functions in existing organisms.
The possibilities of using semisynthetic organisms are truly limitless.
People get the opportunity to design and create biological systems with specified properties and functions that have no analogues in a living environment.
This is not traditional genetic editing, where a fragment of the genetic code of another entity is added to the genetic code of one organism.
These are real high-grade programming of specific properties that are not in nature.
You can give many examples from science fiction works, when living beings are projected for clear functional accomplishment of their task.
For example, JEM'HADAR from the intergalactic military superpower Dominion, located in the Gamma Quadrant of the Star Trek universe, was genetically engineered for war:They lack the instinct of self-preservation, and the only purpose of life is the service of the Footmen, while the warrior's body chemically depends on the constant reception of the cetrosile - which the Founders make.
How interesting will be our planet in the future.. !!
