Scientists build minimum-genome bacterium
Only 473 genes needed to keep organism alive
STRIPPED DOWN A newly-created bacterium dubbed syn3.0 has the smallest genome needed for free living. It contains just 473 genes. Of those, 149 have unknown functions.
Credit: E. Otwell; Source: Hutchison et al/Science 2016.
Scientists have built a bacterium that contains the minimal genetic ingredients needed for free living.