È stato sintetizzato in laboratorio un organismo vivente dotato del più piccolo patrimonio genetico al mondo. Si tratta di un batterio che dispone solo di 473 geni: il numero minimo indispensabile per le sue funzioni vitali e l'autoriproduzione. A titolo comparativo, gli esseri umani dispongono di circa 20'000 geni.
La sintesi di questo microbo "artificiale" si deve a scienziati statunitensi coordinati da Craig Venter, pioniere nel sequenziamento del DNA. I ricercatori hanno finora determinato le funzioni di circa due terzi di questo genoma artificiale, secondo quanto illustrato dalla rivista specializzata "Science".
La creazione di questo microrganismo apre la strada a prime applicazione di vita "artificiale" e potrebbe contribuire a comprendere meglio le funzioni di quei frammenti elementari di DNA, che sono assolutamente essenziali per la vita.
Red.MM/ARi
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