Researchers find microbes that 'recode,' flouting DNA code

Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute in Walnut Creek, California observed that some microbes do not follow the DNA coding, which is considered to consist of a universal set of rules. These microbes interpret the genetic code differently and recode themselves. The DNA and RNA of microbes were studied from 1,776 places, including 17 locations in the human body and it was found that microbes found in humans were particularly prone to recoding. This study has implications for designing life forms that are resistant to viral infections and can have an impact on biosecurity as well. More research is needed on recoding since this can affect other biological forms in yet unknown ways.    

Read more in Nature.

doi:10.1038/nature.2014.15283