Scientists shrink the genetic code of E. coli to contain only 57 of its usual 64 codons

https://phys.org/news/2025-08-scientists-genetic-code-coli-usual.html

42 points · 6 comments · view on lemmy.world

6 Comments

Neverclear@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 12 pts · 1y

The resulting bacteria made with the new code were indeed a living organism, but the researchers found that they grow around four times slower than the parent strain—a problem they hope to eventually fix. 

9% reduction in genome size. 400% increase in replication time. Impressive feat of generic engineering or truly terrible compression algorithm?

salty_chief@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y (4 replies)

Okay, so slowly shrink it down to non-existence? Why does that remind me of high school?

Doxatek@mander.xyz · 4 pts · 1y (2 replies)

Wat

kayzeekayzee@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 1y (1 reply)

In highschool, they shrunk down out of existence

NoSpotOfGround@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y

Ah ok.

obbeel@mander.xyz · 3 pts · 1y

Well, part of science is to push the boundaries.