Describe how the team from the J. Craig Venter Institute created a synthetic genome. How did the team demonstrate that the genome converted the recipient strain of bacteria into a different strain?

Key Concepts

Synthetic Genomics

Synthetic genomics involves the design and construction of new genomes from scratch or by modifying existing ones. This field combines principles of molecular biology, bioinformatics, and engineering to create synthetic DNA sequences that can be inserted into living organisms, allowing researchers to study gene function and develop new biological systems.

Genome Transformation

Genome transformation refers to the process of introducing a new genome into a host organism, resulting in the expression of new traits. In the context of the J. Craig Venter Institute's work, this involved inserting a synthetic genome into a bacterial strain, which then took on the characteristics encoded by the synthetic DNA, effectively converting it into a different strain.

Phenotypic Change

Phenotypic change is the observable expression of an organism's genotype, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The team demonstrated that the recipient strain of bacteria had transformed by observing changes in its physical and biochemical characteristics, confirming that the synthetic genome had successfully altered its phenotype.