Genomes Have Been Transferred Between Branches Of Life

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Genomes Have Been Transferred Between Branches Of Life
	8.24.09 - J. Craig Venter, born on October 14, 1946 in Salt Lake City, Utah, is an American Vietnam veteran, biologist, and businessman. He founded The Institute for Genomic Research, and the J. Craig Venter Institute where he currently works to create synthetic biological organisms for environmental change.
The science of genomics is the study of the genomes of organisms. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping efforts. On August 20, 2009 Venter's Institute published results describing new methods in which, for the first time, genomes have been transferred between branches of life -- from a prokaryote to eukaryote and back to a prokaryote. Hamilton Smith, M.D., one of the leaders of the JCVI team said, "I believe this work has important implications in better understanding the fundamentals of biology to enable the final stages of our work in creating and booting up a synthetic genome. This is possibly one of the most important new findings in the field of synthetic genomics." Synthetic Genomics: Bacteria Mycoplasma Capricolum The entire bacterial genome from Mycoplasma mycoides was cloned in a yeast cell by adding yeast centromeric plasmid sequence to the bacterial chromosome and modified it in yeast using yeast genetic systems. This modified bacterial chromosome was then isolated from yeast and transplanted into a related species of bacteria, Mycoplasma capricolum, to create a new type of M. mycoides cell. To learn more about this study click here. If you want to learn more about Genetics and DNA check out our Genetics & DNA Kit.

Head into the lab!

Genetics & DNA

Head into the lab for an in-depth investigation of genetics, the branch of biology focused on heredity and variation in organisms, and DNA, the acid that holds the blueprints for life.

- isolate the DNA from a tomato
- learn about inheritance and how traits are expressed
- build a DNA model
- breed bacteria to experiment with genetic engineering

Analyze DNA evidence to identify suspects and solve a crime. Learn about the influential scientists, including Mendel, Watson, and Crick, who made breakthrough contributions to this field. Breed your own bacteria colony to experiment with genetic engineering. Read about how mutation affects genes and how scientists clone plants and animals. The full-color, 48-page manual guides your experiments. Ages 10 and up.

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