Year in review: ‘Minimal genome’ makes its debut
Synthetic cell may reveal what is necessary for life
![engineered bacterium](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/7_122416_synthetic-cell_main.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
MOST MINUSCULE Named syn3.0, engineered bacteria developed at the J. Craig Venter Institute can survive and function with just 473 genes.
Mark Ellisman/National Center for Imaging and Microscopy Research