First genome transplant changes one species into another

Physorg.com ^ | August 16, 2007 | Lisa Zyga

[TopoGigio]

For the first time, scientists have completely transformed a species of bacteria into another species by transplanting its complete set of DNA. The achievement marks a significant step toward the construction of synthetic life, with applications including the production of clean fuel in as little as a decade.

[TopoGigio]

Interesting....

[massgopguy]

Brendlefly.

[xcamel]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?m=all;o=time;s=genome

[pieceofthepuzzle]

This is not such a big deal, and also demonstrates how journals like Science and Nature have become catalogs of sensationalism and not the pantheons of scientific progress they get credit for. Nuclear transfer is an old technique that essentially replaces the genomic content of one cell with that of another. This is a variation on that theme. There are a wide array of additional issues that are not addressed by these kinds of experiments, such as epigenetic influences on gene expression, how these epigenetic influences are affected by the immediate cellular environment, and whether or not these will remain constant when genomic material is transfered from one cell to another. I’m not saying that this isn’t interesting, but it’s just another set of experiments on a long journey.

[Dixie Yooper]

When are they going to successfully replace the missing Y chromosome back in men that are missing it?

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"The achievement marks a significant step toward the construction of synthetic life..."

Watch out. Might require a synthetic immune system to protect against "unintended consequences"...

[aruanan]

For the first time, scientists have completely transformed a species of bacteria into another species by transplanting its complete set of DNA.

Not true. If the complete set of DNA from species A is transplanted from one bacterial cell into the cell of species B (not even an exnucleated cell since bacteria have no nucleus), it doesn't transform species B, it has simply replaced it. After replication, it's the same old species A once it's rid itself of its temporary B-species cellular house, so to speak. This would be like claiming that a black family moving into a house formerly occupied by a white family has completely transformed the white family into another race.

The scientists’ results show that it is possible to transplant the complete set of DNA—the genome—from one species into the genome of a different species, so that the recipient organism is phenotypically and genotypically identical to the donor organism

[rbosque]

This is an invitation for creating monsters. Don’t like it.

[UCANSEE2]

Too late. One of them is running for President, the other is Speaker of the House.

[rbosque]

Ha! Good point.

[IronJack]

Maybe they can change Republicans from goo into vertebrates.

[LIConFem]

There aren't enough Y chromosomes in the universe to deal with even half of the NY Democrat males.

That would take an act of God.

[isom35]

Spiderpig!

[Old Professer]

[MD_Willington_1976]

Apply this mechanism to the organisms in sewer treatment plants changing the organisms genome into a bacteria that produces a bio-fuel... now that would be cool!

[doc30]

When are they going to successfully replace the missing Y chromosome back in men that are missing it?

Are you brave enough to try to get them out of Hillary!

[aruanan]

Were you referencing a photo that is now not appearing?

[longtermmemmory]

can they transplant my own, less error prone DNA from 30 years ago?

[Moonman62]

The achievement marks a significant step toward the construction of synthetic life, with applications including the production of clean fuel in as little as a decade.

Promises, promises. Ten years will pass and nothing will happen.