Researchers of Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created pellets that contain all the molecular compounds used to translate DNA into proteins. Pellets are made to be stored for an extended period of time at room temperature.
In synthetic biology, cells are modified to manufacture compounds they don’t usually produce. This study took it one step further by extracting necessary cellular components and freeze-drying them. To activate the frozen pellets, one only needs to add water and DNA that encodes the protein required. It is therefore made to work like components to a full medication – different combinations of compounds can be made fresh in the field.
The importance of this study lies in its practicality. The pellets can be stored safely for a year and transported easily as well. With further development, the findings of this research can be used to synthesize medications or chemicals on the spot, allowing the creation of patient-specific medications.