Life uses 4 DNA letters. Scientists just made 8 work

UC San Diego researchers found that E. coli RNA polymerase can accurately read and transcribe an expanded genetic alphabet with eight letters. The discovery could support new diagnostic tools, therapies, synthetic compounds, and engineered biological systems.

加州大学圣迭戈分校的研究人员发现，大肠杆菌的RNA聚合酶能够准确读取并转录包含8种字母的扩展遗传字母表。这项发现可能推动新型诊断工具、治疗方法、合成化合物和工程生物系统的发展。