'Artificial cell' can make its own genes

Tue, 04/01/2008 - 18:54 - NLN

An "artificial cell" capable of synthesising genes and making them into proteins has been developed by researchers in the US. The postage stamp-sized machine able to make and express its own genes offers a fast and cheap new way of making "designer" proteins not found in nature. It could ultimately help scientists test how individual patients will react to specific drugs.

"At very small volumes in the order of tens of nanolitres, we can construct completely synthetic genes and express these genes to yield functional protein," said David Kong of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston.

Read full story at NewScientist.