[DNA for information storage?]

[Hachimoji DNA extends coding possibilities]

The synthesis of four new nucleotide analogues that can form hydrogen bonds within the DNA double helix and can be incorporated without distortion of the structure extends the possibilities of synthetic biology. Although functional use of these analogues remains in the future, they already have interesting applications and represent an important step forward.

Actualités du séquençage d’ADN

The planned acquisition of Pacific Biosciences by Illumina could signal a big change in the DNA sequencing landscape, and provides the incentive for an update on a field that still has a number of players and could be disrupted by innovative technologies.

De HGP-write aux « super-cellules »

The HGP-write project, announced in 2016 but not really implemented yet, comes back as a project aimed at constructing an “ultra-safe” human cell line fully resistant to virus infection and with other desirable characteristics. This involves introducing 400,000 changes in the genome and raises a number of technical and financial issues, but may become realistic in mid-term.