Evolution of a minimal cell.

ABSTRACT: Possessing only essential genes, a minimal cell can reveal mechanisms and processes that are critical for the persistence and stability of life^1,2. Here we report on how an engineered minimal cell^3,4 contends with the forces of evolution compared with the Mycoplasma mycoides non-minimal cell from which it was synthetically derived. Mutation rates were the highest among all reported bacteria, but were not affected by genome minimization. Genome streamlining was costly, leading to a decrease in fitness of greater than 50%, but this deficit was regained during 2,000 generations of evolution. Despite selection acting on distinct genetic targets, increases in the maximum growth rate of the synthetic cells were comparable. Moreover, when performance was assessed by relative

SUBMITTER: Moger-Reischer RZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10396959 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature