British scientists are taking part in a global effort to build the first synthetic life form whose cell structure resembles that of plants, animals and humans.
The researchers have been given almost £1 million in Government funding to help them construct one of the organism’s 16 chromosomes.
They are part of an international consortium committed to creating an artificial version of yeast by 2017.
It will be the first time scientists have built the whole genome, or genetic code blueprint, of a ‘eukaryotic’ organism whose DNA is stored within a nucleus.
All animals and plants fall into this category. Bacteria and blue-green algae are examples of more primitive organisms that lack nuclei.
Three years ago, a team led by American geneticist Craig Venter created a synthetic bacterium genome from scratch in what was described as a landmark achievement. The new project takes the creation of artificial life to the next level by making the jump to a eukaryotic organism.
Paul Freemont, a leading member of the team from the Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation at Imperial College London, said: “It’s a massive leap forward. Yeast is a eukaryote – it’s a much more complicated cell. These are chromosomes that mimic the chromosomes in our own cells.”
But he made it very clear this was not a first step towards attempting to build Frankenstein-like human life in the laboratory.
“We’re not Wild West cowboys,” said Freemont. “The idea of us going out and synthesising human chromosomes is just ridiculous. It’s not going to happen.”
The yeast genome will be built by combining together the four chemical ‘letters’ of the genetic code, A, C, G and T, into lengths of DNA to be incorporated into chromosomes.
A chromosome is a complex coiled ‘package’ consisting of DNA, protein and other molecules, some of which control the functions of the genes within it.
The 16 individual yeast chromosomes comprise the organism’s genome core, the ‘engine room’ that scientists hope to plant into an inert and empty host cell, effectively creating an artificial organism.
The £970,000 of Government funding will enable the UK team to build and test Synthetic Chromosome XI, which contains more than 700,000 DNA components. Scientists plan to use the synthetic yeast genome as a research tool and microbial ‘factory’ for producing new antibiotics.
“Yeasts have evolved over millions of years, making energy from sugars and excreting alcohol and carbon dioxide gas,” said Freemont.
“Humans have adapted these organisms to our advantage, using their by-products to make alcoholic drinks and risen baked goods. Now we have the opportunity to adapt yeasts further, turning them into predictable and robust hosts for manufacturing the complex products we need for modern living.”
Details of the project, known as Sc 2.0, were revealed at the Sixth International Meeting on Synthetic Biology taking place at Imperial College London.