title: [Synthetic, really?].
abstract: The synthesis of a minimal bacterial genome comprising only 473 genes is an impressive achievement, yet it is only a step towards a really synthetic genome based on first principles: this set of genes was derived from a larger genome by successive elimination of non-essential genes, and 149 of the final 473 genes have no specific (known) biological function. It is nevertheless an important stepping stone towards fully designed minimal genomes.
authors.affiliation: UMR 7268 ADÉS, Aix-Marseille, Université/EFS/CNRS, Espace éthique méditerranéen, hôpital d'adultesla Timone, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France - CoReBio PACA, case901, parc scientifique de Luminy, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jordan
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D058615:Synthetic Biology / Q000379:methods*