The DNA Code Cracked Wide Open The four letter genetic alphabet has been a constant in life on Earth since its inception, but scientists at the University of California San Diego have made a breakthrough that expands this code to include eight genetic letters.
Researchers used high resolution cryo electron microscopy to capture detailed structural views of E. coli's RNA polymerase as it recognized and incorporated synthetic base pairs.
The enzyme uses many of the same biochemical and structural signals to recognize natural base pairs, providing an important foundation for technologies built around expanded genetic codes.