Yeast is a key tool for the research on life. Researchers have recently succeeded in synthesising the complete genome of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is a major step towards creating synthetic life. This is the first time that a complete synthetic eukaryotic genome has been constructed, paving the way for the engineering of more complex organisms.
The synthetic yeast genome (SynXVI) was assembled by a team from Macquarie University in Australia. They used advanced gene-editing tools, including CRISPR, to tackle challenges such as optimising yeast’s ability to metabolise glycerol at high temperatures.
This breakthrough holds promise for a variety of applications in the creation of life, including the development of climate-resistant crops, improved pharmaceutical production and the creation of sustainable materials, by enabling the precise engineering of genetic traits in eukaryotic organisms.