Researchers try to cut the genetic code from 20 to 19 amino acids

Scientists have reengineered bacteria to run a core part of their cellular machinery with just 19 amino acids instead of the standard 20 , focusing on eliminating isoleucine through AI-guided protein design. The research, published in Science, used artificial intelligence to propose alternatives to the amino acid isoleucine in dozens of proteins making up bacterial ribosomes . The findings offer a glimpse into how earlier, simpler life forms might have lived and suggest new ways to synthesize proteins with bespoke functions in medicine and biotechnology .

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-04-30