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Synthetic Chromosomes Successfully Integrated Into Brewer's Yeast

Posted by Soulskill on from the origin-story-for-superyeast dept.

New submitter dunnomattic writes: "Researchers at New York University School of Medicine have achieved a milestone in synthetic biology. A fully synthetic yeast chromosome, dubbed 'synIII,' has successfully replaced chromosome 3 of multiple living yeast cells. The researchers pieced together over 250,000 nucleotide bases to accomplish this feat. Dr. Jef Boeke, the lead author of the study, says, 'not only can we make designer changes on a computer, but we can make hundreds of changes through a chromosome and we can put that chromosome into yeast and have a yeast that looks, smells and behaves like a regular yeast, but this yeast is endowed with special properties that normal yeasts don't have.' Work is underway (abstract) to synthesize the remaining 15 chromosomes."

28 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. One small step for man by ArcadeMan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    One giant leap for Synthehol.

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    1. Re:One small step for man by ColdWetDog · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hell with synthethol, we've got tomatoes cloned, we've got clam clones, we've got....

      Clamato.

      USA! USA!

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    2. Re:One small step for man by oodaloop · · Score: 2

      To hell with clamato, I want Tomacco!

      --
      Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
    3. Re:One small step for man by confused+one · · Score: 4, Funny

      Sir, do you not remember what happened last time? Please reference historical files entitled Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

    4. Re:One small step for man by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 4, Funny

      I was bitten by radioactive yeast in the biology lab, and now have acquired the super-powers of YEASTMAN.

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
    5. Re:One small step for man by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 3, Funny

      I was bitten by radioactive yeast in the biology lab, and now have acquired the super-powers of YEASTMAN.

      Have fun trying to get laid, Yeastman.

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    6. Re:One small step for man by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ya know, if you have the power to shoot alcohol from your wrists, we might have to hang out.

      Well, not my wrists, actually...

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
    7. Re:One small step for man by drainbramage · · Score: 3, Funny

      Looks like she's itching for more....

      --
      No brain, no pain.
  2. Next goals: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    1) Metabolize human flesh
    2) Able to more easily spread via airborne routes
    3) Increase growth exponent
    4) Secrete nerve gas
    5) Infinite life span

    1. Re:Next goals: by Daniel+Dvorkin · · Score: 4, Informative

      Honestly, I think that fear is overblown. Vertebrate pathogens have had hundreds of millions of years of optimization in the most ruthlessly selective "laboratory" ever known, and while there are obviously some pretty deadly ones out there they haven't managed to wipe us out yet. Nothing we do in a lab is likely to come close, in terms of coming up with something that can spread wildly on its own.

      I used to work between a synthetic bio lab at one end of the hall and an infectious disease lab at the other. Ask which one scared me more.

      --
      The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
    2. Re:Next goals: by MightyYar · · Score: 3, Interesting

      On the other hand, things like Dutch Elm Disease show just how devastating a new pathogen can be. I think co-evolution is why "natural" diseases don't have much chance in wiping us out. Given this new ability to skip evolution altogether, look out.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    3. Re:Next goals: by Daniel+Dvorkin · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Co-evolution only looks "co" on very large timescales; every new trick our immune systems have come up with has been in response to something a pathogen already came up with. Sure, there always can (and will) be new plagues, whether the victims are trees or people. I just think they're a whole lot more likely to come from the nigh-uncountable number of random "experiments" taking place in the wild than they are from anything done in a lab.

      --
      The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
    4. Re:Next goals: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I don't think the fear is overblown and I believe it to be quite justified by the theoretical potential of biotechnology. If history reveals anything to me, it is that humans have a very difficult time comprehending the consequences of their actions -- particular when it comes to non-linear advancements. The field of biological engineering is only a baby and we have yet to fully realize its potential; we only began to sequence genomes within the last two decades and we are just barely beginning to create our own. I suppose its easy to come to the conclusion that its fear mongering, particularly when humans are so optimistic in their ignorance.

      1) Metabolize human flesh -- humans form a biosphere that supports trillions of microorganism. There are numerous vectors that may be researched and used. Flesh eating microorganisms are known.

      2) Able to more easily spread via airborne routes -- already organisms able to spread via airborne routes. The air you breath is full of spores and other genetic material like viruses.

      3) Increase growth exponent -- Many microorganisms already grow exponentially if their isn't rate limiting resources.

      4) Secrete nerve gas -- I am unsure if their is a metabolic pathway for the synthesis of nerve gas, but their are many neurotoxins with known metabolic pathways that can be used.

      5) Infinite life span -- we currently believe their are some species that don't die from natural causes.

      I don't think its a matter of these organisms accidentally escaping...at least I hope nobody is stupid enough to fund this type of research. But rather, a deliberate design of a bioweapon. Technology can be used for the benefit of mankind or its destruction, just depends on how we want to use it. Biotech is no different and it is clearly evident that the attributes of one organisms can be engineered in others given the appropriate conditions.

      Technology tends to magnify the actions of 1 individual or organization -- Just look at botnets, sandy hook, 9/11, etc. Other civilizations didn't have worry about the concept of mass shootings because gun technology hadn't been developed. When biotech becomes sufficiently sophisticated and the infrastructure is in place, the actions of a few can totally have an impact on our globalized society. International airports could facilitate a pandemic -- a legitimate fear engineering aside.

      Biotech shouldn't be underestimated, particularly when we are biology. Look at the biosphere around you, the complexity of the molecules and diversity of species. It is a reality.

      --a published bioengineer

  3. So this ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... is how the zombie apocalypse begins, with mutant yeast in our beer. I have an idea for the first brand: Coorpse Light.

    1. Re:So this ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Wouldn't that just be a relabeled Pabst?

  4. We Can Rebuild It by VorpalRodent · · Score: 3, Funny

    So, no super speed, or strength, or other abilities, no synthesizer music.

    For our $6,000,000, all we get is a "yeast endowed with special properties other yeasts don't have"? This will not make a compelling television drama. Perhaps a bland sitcom, but not much more.

    --
    Take it to the limit, everybody to the limit, come on, everybody fhqwhgads.
    1. Re:We Can Rebuild It by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 2

      All yeast dies off from alcohol at some level. If this is a serious commercial adjustment to the organism then I would be working on increasing alcohol tolerance. This would give better yields for the distillers and new wine and beer/ale/mead concoctions that will be ass kicking. Fortunately the Beer Pong Table industry is ready!
      https://www.google.com/search?q=Beer+Pong+tables&num=30&newwindow=1&safe=off&sa=X&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=UKA1U6LtIKPnsATSlIHABg&ved=0CEsQsAQ&biw=771&bih=428

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
    2. Re:We Can Rebuild It by tlhIngan · · Score: 4, Insightful

      All yeast dies off from alcohol at some level. If this is a serious commercial adjustment to the organism then I would be working on increasing alcohol tolerance. This would give better yields for the distillers and new wine and beer/ale/mead concoctions that will be ass kicking.

      Or, Montsanto will, besides owning the entire food business, also own the entire alcoholic drink business as well.

      Welcome to the new world - where the only thing you can have is specially filtered water. After all, a plain glass of tap or bottled may have Monstanto yeast in it, and you'll need to license that bottle if you want to drink it.

    3. Re:We Can Rebuild It by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      All yeast dies off from alcohol at some level. If this is a serious commercial adjustment to the organism then I would be working on increasing alcohol tolerance.

      I would be wanting to make it make a biofuel better than alcohol. If you're gonna think about gene-tampering, think big.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    4. Re:We Can Rebuild It by zippthorne · · Score: 2

      Isn't that also the process by which Monsanto created the roundup-ready crops in the first place?

      --
      Can you be Even More Awesome?!
  5. The screams will be forthcoming soon.... by jcochran · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Oh lord, the Luddites are bad enough with "normal" genetically engineered foods. I hate to imagine the kind of outcry they're do for this.

    1. Re:The screams will be forthcoming soon.... by ArcadeMan · · Score: 2

      I don't call cross-breeding spider DNA with corn DNA "normal".

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    2. Re:The screams will be forthcoming soon.... by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 2

      I don't call cross-breeding spider DNA with corn DNA "normal".

      What do you have against web slinging crime fighting corn?

      Spider Corn, Spider Corn!
      Eat this stuff and your guts you'll mourn!

      (don't have time to finish the song, an unhappy WD Blue needs me... sorry)

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
    3. Re:The screams will be forthcoming soon.... by ProzacPatient · · Score: 4, Insightful

      (Yes I do realize that first link is The Onion but its funny because its basically true)

      I don't particularly have ill feelings toward genetic engineering, in fact I believe it can be a good thing, but what I do care about is the profiteering of it that Monsanto has used to hold everyone hostage, though that is more of a symptom of the broken legal system than anything.

      Monsanto has achieved a monopoly status by using the legal system to patent their modifications and then they sell those patented GMO plants that are (supposedly) only immune to Monsanto pesticides and then they go around and sue everyone bankrupt for using unlicensed Monsanto technology because nature did its thing and cross pollinated with some nearby farmer's crops. Monsanto's exploitation of nature to achieve a monopoly is so bad that some countries have completely banned Monsanto and its products. At this point it surprises me Monsanto doesn't have a protection racket going on where you can buy a "subscription" to GMO products that might happen to pollinate with your old fashioned non-GMO plants.

      Oh and I'll just throw it out there that Monsanto were the ones who developed and peddled Agent Orange to the U.S. Government as a cure all for jungle warfare back in the day.

  6. Isn't this a lot like programming? by 3seas · · Score: 2

    Take a huge program and hey... lets change this little part and see what happens/

    1. Re:Isn't this a lot like programming? by Daniel+Dvorkin · · Score: 2

      In a lot of ways, it is similar, but there are some important differences. The biggest one, I think, is that programs are (or had better be!) deterministic: make a particular change and a particular thing will happen every time. Living systems, even relatively simple ones like yeast cells, are stochastic: make a particular change and the probability of a particular thing happening increases or decreases. What you're counting on when growing a culture of mutated cells is that enough of the cells will behave in the desired fashion to make the behavior of the colony predictable, but the underlying randomness remains.

      --
      The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
  7. Thats ok come at me bro!!! by future+assassin · · Score: 2

    I can protect my self from you by rubbing Monistat all over my body.

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
  8. Re:This is unholy by MalleusEBHC · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's not a perfect analogy, but German and Belgian beers are a good example of what you can do with narrow and open views on ingredients, respectively. The Germans were limited by the Reinheitsgebot to what they could use in their beers, and they produce a relatively narrow range of lagers which are, in my opinion, unspectacular. In contrast, the Belgians use a much wider range of ingredients and adjuncts. They produce what are widely considered some of the finest beers in the world, and they have a much wider range of styles.