Rewriting DNA

A recent article discussed the development of new genetic technologies by MIT and Harvard researchers that could be used to rewrite genetic code. DNA is represented by long strings of letters that code for specific amino acids. Three letter DNA sequences or codons specify an amino acid, while some called a stop codon tells the cell when to stop adding amino acids to a protein chain. The researchers tried to use their technology to rewrite some of these stop codons present in E. coli. The technology acts as a search and replace function, seeking out a specific sequence of a stop codon, in the E. coli case, TAG and replacing it with new one, TAA without disrupting the cells function. This process can be used to make large scale edits. The process used was a combination of techniques called multiplex automated genome engineering (MAGE) and conjugative assembly genome engineering (CAGE).  MAGE is used to locate DNA sequences and replace them with a new letter sequence, while the rest of the genome is left alone. CAGE is used to control a natural process that bacteria use to exchange genetic material. Bacteria connect by an extension to another cell and passes some of its genetic material, which can be controlled and in the case of the E. coli could be TAA in order to change the sequence from the normal TAG codon. This research and technology could be a giant step for genetic engineering.