Researchers try to cut the genetic code from 20 to 19 amino acids
Summary
Ars Technica reports on a Columbia-Harvard team using AI-driven protein design to remove one amino acid (isoleucine) from the genetic code by re-engineering the ribosome in E. coli. The work demonstrates both the potential and limits of current AI tools in fundamental biology, showing partial success in creating an isoleucine-free ribosomal subunit and highlighting remaining questions about cellular fitness and evolutionary context.