Genetic Code Research Articles

Сognitive Dimension of the Word-forming Nest with Dialectal Vertices Yeden / Yeden (“єде́н / є́ден”): Logical Propositions

In this article, a current task of modern derivatolofical studies is addressed – the cognitive structuring of derived words in denumerative word formation, grouped according to word-forming semantics, considering motivational relationships through the prism of divergent-convergent properties of the content of the generative word – the vertex of the word-formation nest. The analysis was carried out on the basis of a word-forming nest with variational vertices belonging to the dialect layer of the lexicon – yeden /yeden (“еден / еден”). The specified motivational words are characterized by a polysemantic continuum, so they are characterized by differences in creative meanings both directly and indirectly deep into the word-forming nest. Such complex units of word-formation have the status of being divergent. Motivating relations in the dyad «the vertex of the word-forming nest – the denumerative» can record mental knowledge in the aspect of the linguo-cognitive approach to the analysis of linguistic phenomena: the genetic codes of the word-formation, preserved in the derivative, as well as the semantic increments present in the meaning structure of the derivatives are revealed. Analyzing the cognitive semantics within word-forming values, the elements of frame are established, the components of which are derivative units of modification and transposition types of derivation, namely: subframe, cognitive slot, verbalized slot, propositional structure, and two-component logical proposition. The prospects of the research consist in the systematіc cognitive interpretation of derivatives based on various word-formation units, which lead the formatives that belong not only to the core, but also to the periphery of the motivational base, which will make it possible to comprehensively model the semantic positions of derived words, or more broadly, the mental manifestation of the word-formation level Ukrainian language.

Theory of Constitutional Unamendability; The Legality of Sec.23(4) of the Zanzibar Constitution, 1984

Many constitutions across the world contains un-amendable provisions, in order, inter alia, to protect the basic characteristics of the constitutional principles seeming as to be at risk of repealed by the parliaments. From the same aspect, this article meant to examine un-amendable provisions stipulated in the Constitution of Zanzibar, 1984. In doing so, the article reviews the origins, formation and substance of un-amendable provisions. To some extent, un-amendable provisions drawn in the 1984 Constitution, executes certain functions and imitate the significant values of the constitutional principles. In spite of these limitations being used as a protector of genetic codes, but the constitutional drafters were keen enough to find a way not to diminish the power of the people to modify their way of life through un-amendable provisions.

The role of tRNA identity elements in aminoacyl-tRNA editing.

The rules of the genetic code are implemented by the unique features that define the amino acid identity of each transfer RNA (tRNA). These features, known as "identity elements," mark tRNAs for recognition by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs), the enzymes responsible for ligating amino acids to tRNAs. While tRNA identity elements enable stringent substrate selectivity of ARSs, these enzymes are prone to errors during amino acid selection, leading to the synthesis of incorrect aminoacyl-tRNAs that jeopardize the fidelity of protein synthesis. Many error-prone ARSs have evolved specialized domains that hydrolyze incorrectly synthesized aminoacyl-tRNAs. These domains, known as editing domains, also exist as free-standing enzymes and, together with ARSs, safeguard protein synthesis fidelity. Here, we discuss how the same identity elements that define tRNA aminoacylation play an integral role in aminoacyl-tRNA editing, synergistically ensuring the correct translation of genetic information into proteins. Moreover, we review the distinct strategies of tRNA selection used by editing enzymes and ARSs to avoid undesired hydrolysis of correctly aminoacylated tRNAs.

A Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) Assay for Detection of HBV RNA, DNA, and cccDNA in Cell Culture.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is undoubtedly a master in exploiting host resources while evading host defense for its multiplication within a constrained genetic coding capacity. To further unravel these cunning strategies, a clear picture of virus-host interaction with key subcellular and molecular contexts is needed. Here, we describe a FISH protocol modified from the ViewRNA assay that allows direct visualization of HBV RNA, DNA, and cccDNA in cell culture models (e.g., HepAD38, HepG2-NTCP). It can be coupled with immunofluorescence staining of viral or host proteins or other fluorescent tagging systems which could illuminate numerous aspects of virus-host interactions.

Innovations in medical tourism

Medical tourism in the modern world is becoming a new, actively developing market segment. This market segment is expanding due to the active introduction of highly professional medical services. Instruments such as innovation certificates (vouchers) for small and medium-sized high-tech companies to pay for medical R&D services. This is an investment by the government to support innovation in medicine and population wellness. The results of the global ranking for 2022 made it possible to highlight the key advantages and disadvantages of the innovation system of the Russian Federation. It is noted that the main purpose of innovation implementation in medical tourism is to improve its efficiency, the question of measuring the impact of innovation on the quality of medical services provided to tourists inevitably arises. In this regard, we have reviewed some of the innovations that can be used in medicine such as: artificial intelligence, DNA sequencing for deciphering the genetic code, CRISPR-Cas9 system for genetic "scissors", virtual and augmented reality technology for treating neurological and psychosomatic disorders, VR technology, patient-specific devices (PSD) for customized implants, Cast21 for prosthetic limbs, bioprinting, smart insulin port, Kardiaelectrocardiograph. They can be used in the development of proposals for medical tours. With the application of innovations in medicine and the introduction of an international certification system in the medical sector, the attractiveness of medical tourism will increase significantly and attract new clients.

Multi ‐ omics studies of eye and lens development

Early eye development involves formation of a symmetric pair of optic vesicles from the anterior neuroectoderm and parallel formation of closely apposed lens placodes. Their reciprocal invaginations generate the 3D‐foundation of the optic cups. Embryonic lens development is initiated within the border between the anterior neuroectoderm and naïve ectoderm, called the anterior pre‐placodal region. The earliest stages of lens development require coordinated actions of DNA‐binding transcription factor Pax6, signalling growth factor BMP4 and a pair of chromatin remodelling enzymes p300 and CBP. Studies in model vertebrates postulated a common Pax6+ progenitor cell population to generate both the lens and olfactory placodes. Recent progress in technologies to probe chromatin structure, landscape of transcription factor binding, DNA methylation, coding (mRNA) and noncoding (e.g. eRNAs and ncRNAs) transcriptomes and chromatin conformation have been shown to generate unprecedented mechanistic insights into the earliest cell fate decisions and tissue organization. To examine lens development at E8.5, E9.5 and E10.5 mouse embryos, single cell RNA‐seq (scRNA‐seq) experiments using the 10XGenomics Chromium platform were conducted. E9.5 Pax6 null embryos and controls were also included. Whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) was performed in E14.5 and P0.5 microdissected mouse lenses to map DNA methylation and integrate the data with corresponding ATAC‐ and RNA‐seq data sets. Open chromatin and DNA methylation changes were defined through identification of differentially accessible regions (DARs), unmethylated/low methylated regions (UMRs/LMRs) coupled with differential gene expression during lens differentiation. To probe 3D‐organization of lens chromatin and to identify temporally and spatially regulated lens‐specific distal enhancers, Hi‐C was used in conjunction with ChIP‐seq analysis of transcription factor CTCF in microdissected newborn lenses. Previous ChIP‐seq data using whole newborn lenses include H3K27ac peaks to identify super‐enhancers. Pax6 proteins were found both in open and closed chromatin domains, including both closed and methylated regions. In vitro binding of Pax6 proteins was not inhibited by 5‐methylcytosines within one or two CpG dinucleotides present in the Pax6 binding sites. In summary, cell fate decisions are governed by complex changes in chromatin landscape controlled by sequence‐specific DNA‐binding transcription factors and their recruitment of chromatin remodelling complexes. A combination of different –omics is a powerful approach to examine molecular mechanisms governing eye development. These studies also reveal additional levels of genetic code complexity and stimulate follow up mechanistic studies of the individual cellular and molecular processes of lens morphogenesis and their underlying GRNs and identification of cataract‐causing mutation in non‐coding regulatory sequences.

An efficient pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase for economical production of MeHis-containing enzymes.

Genetic code expansion has emerged as a powerful tool in enzyme design and engineering, providing new insights into sophisticated catalytic mechanisms and enabling the development of enzymes with new catalytic functions. In this regard, the non-canonical histidine analogue Nδ-methylhistidine (MeHis) has proven especially versatile due to its ability to serve as a metal coordinating ligand or a catalytic nucleophile with a similar mode of reactivity to small molecule catalysts such as 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). Here we report the development of a highly efficient aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (G1PylRSMIFAF) for encoding MeHis into proteins, by transplanting five known active site mutations from Methanomethylophilus alvus (MaPylRS) into the single domain PylRS from Methanogenic archaeon ISO4-G1. In contrast to the high concentrations of MeHis (5-10 mM) needed with the Ma system, G1PylRSMIFAF can operate efficiently using MeHis concentrations of ∼0.1 mM, allowing more economical production of a range of MeHis-containing enzymes in high titres. Interestingly G1PylRSMIFAF is also a 'polyspecific' aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (aaRS), enabling incorporation of five different non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) including 3-pyridylalanine and 2-fluorophenylalanine. This study provides an important step towards scalable production of engineered enzymes that contain non-canonical amino acids such as MeHis as key catalytic elements.

METABOLIC SYNDROME – A COMMON CONDITION IN MODERN SOCIETIES

The presence of multiple unknowns and uncertainty factors in medical research has made it extremely challenging to distinguish the preclinical phase of a chronic disease, such as the metabolic syndrome (MS), from the initial condition of health. MS is a complex and multifactorial medical condition characterized by the presence of at least three of the following conditions: high insulin levels (normal HOMA qualitative index 2), elevated serum glucose level > 126 mg/dl, patients with abdominal obesity, a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 , a lipid panel showing a triglyceride level ≥ 150 mg/dl, and HDL-CO 35 mg/dl in men and 45 mg/dl in women. In all developed countries, the number of obese people diagnosed with insulin resistance (IR) has rapidly increased to > 40% in recent years. This condition precedes the development of MS. The likelihood of having MS rises with advancing age. Additionally, new research has identified other influential hormones produced by adipose tissue that significantly impact metabolism, such as lipid cytokines, leptin, adiponectin, and rezistin. Researchers believe that central obesity and the chronic inflammatory process play a key role in the development of metabolic syndrome and focus on mitochondrial dysfunction, changes in the gut microbiome, and pancreatic beta cell dysfunction. The primary determinant in averting the development of MS is humanity's struggle against its own bioenergetic entropy, which may induce catabolic processes that abbreviate life expectancy while promoting negentropy until the fulfillment of the life program predetermined in the genetic code.

The Challenge Facing CRISPR/Cas9 System: Off-Target Effects and Their Optimization

The field of genome editing has undergone a profound revolution with the emergence of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, which enables precise modifications to the genetic code. However, a critical concern is the possibility for the appearance of off-target, where the modifications induced by Cas9 nuclease are at non-intended targets. The mismatches of the seed sequence with the single guide RNA (sgRNA) and the inappropriate length of it could induce off-target effects. Moreover, the inflammatory response triggered by virus-mediated delivery methods may also be responsible for off-target. For the expected events, a large number of deletions of the sequences of the targeted sequence induced by CRISPR-Cas9 may bring the uncertainty of safety. The random changes of genes induced by CRISPR-Cas9 may affect future generations through gene drives, which still lacks long-term studies on long-lived organisms. The off-target effects could be detected by some sequencing methods such as GUIDE-seq, and ITR-seq; however, the suitable ways are situation-dependent. Eventually, the specificity of the technique may be improved through the predictions implemented by Deep Learning, enhancing fidelity and lowering the binding affinity of the Cas9, binding of dual sgRNAs, and delivery method of RNP complexes. This review introduced the causes, effects, and detection methods of the off-target and further discussed of several ways that can mitigate the off-target effects.

Statistical analysis of synonymous and stop codons in pseudo-random and real sequences as a function of GC content

Knowledge of the frequencies of synonymous triplets in protein-coding and non-coding DNA stretches can be used in gene finding. These frequencies depend on the GC content of the genome or parts of it. An example of interest is provided by stop codons. This is relevant for the definition of Open Reading Frames. A generic case is provided by pseudo-random sequences, especially when they code for complex proteins or when they are non-coding and not subject to selection pressure. Here, we calculate, for such sequences and for all 25 known genetic codes, the frequency of each amino acid and stop codon based on their set of codons and as a function of GC content. The amino acids can be classified into five groups according to the GC content where their expected frequency reaches its maximum. We determine the overall Shannon information based on groups of synonymous codons and show that it becomes maximum at a percent GC of 43.3% (for the standard code). This is in line with the observation that in most fungi, plants, and animals, this genomic parameter is in the range from 35 to 50%. By analysing natural sequences, we show that there is a clear bias for triplets corresponding to stop codons near the 5′- and 3′-splice sites in the introns of various clades.

Molecular Marvels: Small Molecules Paving the Way for Enhanced Gene Therapy.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of genetic engineering, the advent of CRISPR-Cas technologies has catalyzed a paradigm shift, empowering scientists to manipulate the genetic code with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. Despite the remarkable capabilities inherent to CRISPR-Cas systems, recent advancements have witnessed the integration of small molecules to augment their functionality, introducing new dimensions to the precision and versatility of gene editing applications. This review delves into the synergy between CRISPR-Cas technologies based specifically on Cas9 and small-molecule drugs, elucidating the pivotal role of chemicals in optimizing target specificity and editing efficiency. By examining a diverse array of applications, ranging from therapeutic interventions to agricultural advancements, we explore how the judicious use of chemicals enhances the precision of CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genetic modifications. In this review, we emphasize the significance of small-molecule drugs in fine-tuning the CRISPR-Cas9 machinery, which allows researchers to exert meticulous control over the editing process. We delve into the mechanisms through which these chemicals bolster target specificity, mitigate off-target effects, and contribute to the overall refinement of gene editing outcomes. Additionally, we discuss the potential of chemical integration in expanding the scope of CRISPR-Cas9 technologies, enabling tailored solutions for diverse genetic manipulation challenges. As CRISPR-Cas9 technologies continue to evolve, the integration of small-molecule drugs emerges as a crucial avenue for advancing the precision and applicability of gene editing techniques. This review not only synthesizes current knowledge but also highlights future prospects, paving the way for a deeper understanding of the synergistic interplay between CRISPR-Cas9 systems and chemical modulators in the pursuit of more controlled and efficient genetic modifications.

Cultural Policy of the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918–1921)

Culture, cultural heritage is a kind of text allowing us to “read” about the identity and genetic code of a nation, or, in other words, providing a key to understanding the “personality” and mindset of the nation and, at the same time, creating a path to the future. Therefore, protecting and developing culture to ensure cultural continuity is an essential prerequisite for ensuring the existence and progress of each nation and country – this is the firmly held axiom on which the cultural policy of states is based. This becomes all the more relevant for Georgia, which, due to its unique location and geopolitical, cultural and strategic importance, already in the distant past embraced the cultural achievements of the eastern and western civilisations and succeeded in creating its uniquely distinct and diverse national culture, thus putting itself firmly on the map of world culture. Of utmost importance in this process is the brief transitional period of existence of the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918–1921), during which the country actively set about defining and implementing state cultural policy and establishing a national administration system in this sphere. The article argues that the state vision of culture or, in modern terms, cultural policy corresponding to the political system then in place, existed within the aforesaid time frame long before the world, including modern Georgia, saw the need to develop a cultural policy. Considering the country’s legislative framework, the institutional administration system of the cultural sphere, the dynamics of cultural life and its peculiarities, and internationally recognised concepts and models, we tentatively define the cultural policy model of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in the last part of the article. We liken it, to a certain extent, to the Architect State model as developed by Harry Hillman Chartrand and Claire McCaughey. The bureaucratic-educational concept model offered by Milena Dragićević-Šešić and Branimir Stoykovich also proved to be of interest. The international models put forward by the aforesaid scholars undoubtedly differ from the historically existing ktitoric/protective model of Georgian culture, as well as from the protective model established by the Democratic Republic of Georgia. There are, however, some common features between them: centralised patronage/support of culture by the state, non-intervention in the content of art; considering culture and art as one of the precursors to the social wellbeing of society; highlighting the priority importance of the educational function of culture and art. With due regard for the foregoing, we have tentatively designated the cultural policy model applied by the Democratic Republic of Georgia as the educational model of the Architect State.

Genetic Code Expansion in the Service of Bioelectrochemistry

Genetic code expansion is a method that enables the inclusion of unnatural amino acids (UAAs) into proteins by expanding the genetic code beyond the 20 canonical amino acids. This can be accomplished by introducing new codons (triplet sequences that encode specific amino acids) into the genetic code via orthogonal tRNA/synthetase pairs.Orthogonal tRNA/synthetase pairs are comprised of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) and tRNAs that are not present in nature. These pairs can recognize and charge UAAs with tRNAs that possess non-natural codons, allowing for the integration of these amino acids into proteins in response to non-sense codons.In our laboratory, we utilize this approach to incorporate various UAAs, some of which serve as orthogonal chemical handles for "clicking" them with redox-active molecules or biomolecules (via click chemistry) or for attaching them to electrodes to enable site-specific orientation of enzymes. Some UAAs are redox-active on their own, which imparts new properties to the proteins and enzymes into which they are incorporated for biosensing and catalysis. In my presentation, I will outline a simple straightforward technique developed in our lab for selecting new UAAs-compatible aaRSs and provide examples and electrochemical characterizations from our recent investigations. Genetic code expansion is a method that enables the inclusion of unnatural amino acids (UAAs) into proteins by expanding the genetic code beyond the 20 canonical amino acids. This can be accomplished by introducing new codons (triplet sequences that encode specific amino acids) into the genetic code via orthogonal tRNA/synthetase pairs.Orthogonal tRNA/synthetase pairs are comprised of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) and tRNAs that are not present in nature. These pairs can recognize and charge UAAs with tRNAs that possess non-natural codons, allowing for the integration of these amino acids into proteins in response to non-sense codons.In our laboratory, we utilize this approach to incorporate various UAAs, some of which serve as orthogonal chemical handles for "clicking" them with redox-active molecules or biomolecules (via click chemistry) or for attaching them to electrodes to enable site-specific orientation of enzymes. Some UAAs are redox-active on their own, which imparts new properties to the proteins and enzymes into which they are incorporated for biosensing and catalysis. In my presentation, I will outline a simple straightforward technique developed in our lab for selecting new UAAs-compatible aaRSs and provide examples and electrochemical characterizations from our recent investigations.

Biosynthesis, Engineering, and Delivery of Selenoproteins.

Selenocysteine (Sec) was discovered as the 21st genetically encoded amino acid. In nature, site-directed incorporation of Sec into proteins requires specialized biosynthesis and recoding machinery that evolved distinctly in bacteria compared to archaea and eukaryotes. Many organisms, including higher plants and most fungi, lack the Sec-decoding trait. We review the discovery of Sec and its role in redox enzymes that are essential to human health and important targets in disease. We highlight recent genetic code expansion efforts to engineer site-directed incorporation of Sec in bacteria and yeast. We also review methods to produce selenoproteins with 21 or more amino acids and approaches to delivering recombinant selenoproteins to mammalian cells as new applications for selenoproteins in synthetic biology.

Metagenomic Sequencing Revealed Differences in the Composition of Cecal Microbes in Different Breeds of Chickens.

Intestinal microorganisms are closely related to the health, development, and production performance of animals and can also provide basic information for us to fully understand and explore the germplasm characteristics and traits of local chicken breeds. In this experiment, we used five local Chinese chicken breeds as research materials; metagenomic sequencing technology was used to explore the differences in the composition of intestinal microorganisms in different breeds, and it was found that each local chicken breed had unique unigenes, of which Silkies had the most, with a total of 12,948. GO and KEGG analyses found that the biological processes most enriched by differential functional genes include genetic coding, macromolecular transport, protein synthesis, and molecular functions such as glycoprotein binding, protein hydrolysis, etc. Each breed is enriched with specific pathways, such as Anyi tile-like gray chickens, which are enriched with pathways related to disease resistance, while Gamecocks' enrichment is related to amino acid metabolism. Random Forest and LEfSe analyses revealed specific species of intestinal microorganisms in the cecum of different breeds, such as Exiguobacterium, which is associated with melanin deposition in Silkies. Therefore, we infer that gut microorganisms are closely related to the formation of chicken breed characteristics, and the results of this experiment can provide a theoretical basis for the discovery of high-quality traits and the improvement of feeding conditions in the future.

Characterizing lysine acetylation of glucokinase.

Glucokinase (GK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of glucose to form glucose-6-phosphate as the substrate of glycolysis for energy production. Acetylation of lysine residues in Escherichia coli GK has been identified at multiple sites by a series of proteomic studies, but the impact of acetylation on GK functions remains largely unknown. In this study, we applied the genetic code expansion strategy to produce site-specifically acetylated GK variants which naturally exist in cells. Enzyme assays and kinetic analyses showed that lysine acetylation decreases the GK activity, mostly resulting from acetylation of K214 and K216 at the entrance of the active site, which impairs the binding of substrates. We also compared results obtained from the glutamine substitution method and the genetic acetyllysine incorporation approach, showing that glutamine substitution is not always effective for mimicking acetylated lysine. Further genetic studies as well as in vitro acetylation and deacetylation assays were performed to determine acetylation and deacetylation mechanisms, which showed that E. coli GK could be acetylated by acetyl-phosphate without enzymes and deacetylated by CobB deacetylase.

A Sirtuin-Dependent T7 RNA Polymerase Variant.

Transcriptional regulation is of great significance for cells to maintain homeostasis and, meanwhile, represents an innovative but less explored means to control biological processes in synthetic biology and bioengineering. Herein we devised a T7 RNA polymerase (T7RNAP) variant through replacing an essential lysine located in the catalytic core (K631) with Nε-acetyl-l-lysine (AcK) via genetic code expansion. This T7RNAP variant requires the deacetylase activity of NAD-dependent sirtuins to recover its enzymatic activities and thereby sustains sirtuin-dependent transcription of the gene of interest in live cells including bacteria and mammalian cells as well as in in vitro systems. This T7RNAP variant could link gene transcription to sirtuin expression and NAD availability, thus holding promise to support some relevant research.

Research progress of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology in construction of cancer models

Gene editing broadly refers to a range of scientific techniques that can override a cells intrinsic genetic code. Gene editing may, for instance, have a crucial therapeutic role in altering the expression of genes that can contribute to the development of cancer by modulating oncogenic signaling pathways. Cancer is one of the most fatal diseases around the globe. Despite advances in diagnostics and therapeutics, curative therapies have been challenging to identify. Numerous therapeutic methods have already been found and developed, such as small molecule inhibitors and gene therapies, but novel therapeutic strategies, in the form of gene editing, are required to be explored. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, combined with advancing computer and imaging capabilities has made it possible to accurately diagnose diseases, predict disease susceptibility based on individual genome, and even to modify genetic information. It has important application value in gene function research, tumor mouse model construction and cancer therapy because of its high efficiency and precision. The discovery and advancement of CRISPR-Cas9 may shed light on the future direction for cancer treatment and present a solution for curing cancer. In this review, the mechanisms of action of CRISPR-Cas9 and its delivery into cells will be explored. Both in vitro and in vivo cancer models created by CRISPR-Cas9 will be discussed and the advantages and limitations of CRISPR-Cas9 system will be examined.

Orchestration and theranostic applications of synthetic genome with Hachimoji bases/building blocks.

Synthetic genomics is a novel field of chemical biology where the chemically modified genetic alphabets have been considered in central dogma of life. Tweaking of chemical compositions of natural nucleotide bases could be developed as novel building blocks of DNA/RNA. The modified bases (dP, dZ, dS, and dB etc.) have been demonstrated to be adaptable for replication, transcription and follow Darwinism law of evolution. With advancement of chemical biology especially nucleotide chemistry, synthetic genetic codes have been discovered and Hachimoji nucleotides are the most important and significant one among them. These additional nucleotide bases can form orthogonal base-pairing, and also follow Darwinian evolution and other structural features. In the Hachimoji base pairing, synthetic building blocks are formed using eight modified nucleotide (DNA/RNA) letters (hence the name "Hachimoji"). Their structural conformations, like polyelectrolyte backbones and stereo-regular building blocks favor thermodynamic stability and confirm Schrodinger aperiodic crystal. From the structural genomics aspect, these synthetic bases could be incorporated into the central dogma of life. Researchers have shown Hachimoji building blocks were transcribed to its RNA counterpart as a functional fluorescent Hachimoji aptamer. Apart from several unnatural nucleotide base pairs maneuvered into its invitro and invivo applications, this review describes future perspective towards the development and therapeutic utilization of the genetic codes, a primary objective of synthetic and chemical biology.

Cotton Monocultures and Reorganizing Socioecological Life in Telangana, India

Five hundred years of desire for cotton has reshaped landscapes, built global economic commodity chains, and devalued human life in the name of producing cheap clothing. Since 2001, cotton monocultures in South India have also reorganized genetic codes, continuing centuries of work to maintain the socioecological possibility of extractive agricultural production. This paper combines ethnographic and ethnobiological research in Telangana, India, to center cotton's role in organizing socioecological life for an agrarian world including farmers, farmworkers, plants, soils, buyers, weeds, and animals. Mutually exclusive systems of genetically modified Bt and organic cotton production offer a range of possible organizations of labor, aspiration, reciprocity, and labor. While historically situated in plantation inequalities, cotton production can also make unexpected room for socioecological relationships outside extractive monoculture.