Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) reported that they have developed a bacterium with genetic material containing an added pair of DNA bases not occurring in nature. The cells of the genetically engineered bacterium can replicate the unnatural DNA bases more or less normally, for as long as the molecular building blocks are available. According to TSRI professor Floyd Romesberg, leader of the research team, their study is a manifestation that other solutions in storing information are possible and may lead to an expanded DNA biology that will have several applications from new medicines to new forms of nanotechnology.