Tag: Protein engineering

Over 200 non-canonical amino acids have been genetically incorporated into proteins using advanced genetic code expansion technologies, proving it's possible to make new amino acids. This incredible ability to expand life's building blocks is now revolutionizing biotechnology, medicine, and materials science, pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

The average protein in the human body is about 450 amino acids long, and yes, it is possible to synthesize pure protein outside of living organisms. This capability is fundamental to modern biotechnology, enabling the production of specific proteins for research, medicine, and industry. However, achieving true purity and functionality presents significant challenges that vary depending on the synthesis method used.

Synthetic proteins are artificially created proteins engineered for specific functions, a feat that is revolutionizing multiple industries. Unlike their natural counterparts, these human-designed molecules offer unparalleled precision and customizability, leading to groundbreaking applications in medicine, biotechnology, and sustainable materials.

According to a 2024 study, foods combining alternative protein sources, like plants, fungi, and cultivated meat, are gaining traction as a sustainable solution to meet global nutritional needs. This emerging category of hybrid foods introduces a key concept: hybrid protein, which leverages different protein sources to create products with enhanced nutritional value, functionality, and sensory appeal.

While the vast majority of proteins we encounter are produced by living organisms, modern science has definitively shown that non-biological proteins can and do exist. Research into creating proteins outside of biological systems is a rapidly growing field with profound implications for medicine, materials science, and our understanding of the origins of life.

Since 2011, scientists at institutions like Princeton University have successfully created synthetic proteins capable of sustaining life in bacteria. The question, 'is there such a thing as synthetic protein?' is not only a possibility but a reality that has unlocked new potential in medicine, materials science, and beyond. This field of synthetic biology allows researchers to create proteins with specific, non-natural properties.