Artificially Expanded Genetic Information System
Encyclopedia
Artificially Expanded Genetic Information System (AEGIS) is a synthetic life
experiment from the laboratories of the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution in Gainesville, Florida
. The system uses twelve different nucleic acids, including the four found in DNA
, in its genetic code
, and replicates via polymerase chain reaction
. The system is claimed to be able to achieve Darwinian evolution.
AEGIS research is the result of a NASA
-funded project to try to understand how extraterrestrial life
may have developed.
Synthetic life
The creation of synthetic life is a goal of scientists working in the fields of synthetic biology or exploring the origin of life. The term has also been used to describe recent experiments that transferred...
experiment from the laboratories of the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
. The system uses twelve different nucleic acids, including the four found in DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
, in its genetic code
Genetic code
The genetic code is the set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material is translated into proteins by living cells....
, and replicates via polymerase chain reaction
Polymerase chain reaction
The polymerase chain reaction is a scientific technique in molecular biology to amplify a single or a few copies of a piece of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence....
. The system is claimed to be able to achieve Darwinian evolution.
AEGIS research is the result of a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
-funded project to try to understand how extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
may have developed.