Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Understanding nucleic acids using synthetic chemistry.

Steven A Benner1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, USA. benner@chem.ufl.edu

Accounts of Chemical Research
|October 20, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Recognition of non-standard base pairs by triplex-forming oligonucleotides containing an expanded genetic alphabet.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Ribose Accumulation in Borate-Rich Prebiotic Environments.

Astrobiology·2026
Same author

Viking Mars, Now 50 Years Old, Still Needs a Scientific Analysis.

Astrobiology·2025
Same author

Interstep compatibility of a model for the prebiotic synthesis of RNA consistent with Hadean natural history.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

Draft genome and alcohol dehydrogenase dataset of thermoanaerobacter uzonensis bacterium strain AK85.

Data in brief·2025
Same author

Improving the Fidelity of Replication of a Six-Letter DNA Alphabet.

ACS chemical biology·2025

Researchers expanded the genetic alphabet to 12 nucleobases, creating artificial genetic systems. This innovation aids in monitoring viral infections like HIV and hepatitis C, advancing personalized medicine.

Area of Science:

  • Synthetic Chemistry
  • Physical Organic Chemistry
  • Biological Chemistry
  • Synthetic Biology

Background:

  • Understanding DNA's molecular recognition is key to genetics.
  • Nucleobases, sugars, and phosphates are crucial components of DNA.
  • Current genetic systems utilize a four-nucleobase alphabet.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the roles of DNA components in molecular recognition.
  • To develop an artificially expanded genetic information system.
  • To explore the universal features of genetic molecules and prebiotic chemistry.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized synthetic, physical organic, and biological chemistry approaches.
  • Increased the number of nucleobases from 4 to 12.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Investigated uncharged phosphate replacements in genetic molecules.

    • Main Results:

    • Created an artificially expanded genetic information system with 12 nucleobases.
    • This system is clinically applied to monitor HIV and hepatitis C viral loads.
    • Findings suggest a repeating charge is universal for genetic molecules in water, potentially existing in extraterrestrial life.

    Conclusions:

    • Expanded genetic systems have practical clinical applications in disease management.
    • The charge on genetic molecules is a fundamental property for life in aqueous environments.
    • These advancements are foundational to the emerging field of synthetic biology, mimicking biological evolution through chemistry.