Categories: Post

Re-Creating the Wheel

The other day, the J. Craig Venter Institute announced that it had created a man-made copy of the genome  of Mycoplasma mycoides. A bacteria.

After painstakingly linking over a million nucleotides in the right places to create the complete genome, they implanted this into a different bacterial cell.  Not only did it begin to immediately reprogram the recipient cell, but it began to reproduce those new cells.  Naturally.

This is, quite honestly, the coolest thing. Ever.

c2st

Recent Posts

Right Under Your Feet: Why Soil is More Than Just Dirt

You always hear people say “look ahead” or “hold your head high,” but I would…

2 days ago

Why Are Babies So Cute? The Evolutionary Science of Baby Schema

Have you ever wondered why almost everyone instinctively smiles when they see a baby? Even…

2 weeks ago

Science of Everything: Air Quality Index

For the citizens of Chicago, the summer of 2026 has not been all sunshine and…

2 weeks ago

Marine Mind Control: The Basics of Electrofishing

Just a few weeks ago I was fishing at Ottertail Lake, Minnesota, searching for Northern…

3 weeks ago

Full Circle Moments: Activism and Advancements in HIV Medications

In 2021, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS set a goal of ending AIDS…

1 month ago

Science of Everything: Microwavable Plastics

It’s been on your mind all day — that leftover pasta that’s waiting for you…

1 month ago