GROs for Creating Safer GMOs

Environmental safety of the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has long been an issue affecting its public acceptance. With this, Yale University researchers developed a new way in producing GMOs that are safer for the environment. This was done though the use of synthetic amino acids not found in nature. This synthetic amino acid is inserted in the DNA of a bacterial strain when the DNA has been rewrote to activate the important genes for growth. Researchers refer to it as genomically recoded organisms (GROs). GROs also contains a new genetic code that connects the growth of bacteria to synthetic amino acids.

The development of GROs will be essential in restricting the spread and survival of organism in a natural environment. The researchers believe that the use of GROs consisting of a new genetic code and synthetic amino acids will be important to scientists in making safer GMOs.

Details of the story can be read at:  http://news.yale.edu/2015/01/21/synthetic-amino-acid-enables-safe-new-biotechnology-solutions-global-problems or http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature14095.html.