Zimmer, Carl. “DNA Gets a New - and Bigger - Genetic Alphabet.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 21 Feb. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/science/dna-hachimoji-genetic-alphabet.html

In this article, which is written by Carl Zimmer, the author examines the creation of a new genetic alphabet in a scientific breakthrough by chemist Steven A. Benner. Being fascinated by how the four nitrogenous bases of DNA are attracted to each other in order to maintain the double helix shape of the molecule, Benner thought of hypothetical synthetic molecular bases in the 1980s that should theoretically be able to be substituted for the existing four bases (A, T, G, C). Having finally succeeded in this quest by successfully synthesizing these artificial bases, Benner has also seized the opportunity to name his new ‘alphabet for DNA’: Hachimoji. Hatchi is Japanese for eight and moji means letter. Thus, this is the perfect name for Benner’s new, half-synthetic, alphabet for DNA. His discovery would later lead to further investigation into this new field. Most notably, Floyd E. Romesberg, of the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, managed to create enzymes that were able to successfully duplicate the artificial DNA sequences. And, in 2014, they were able to successfully have bacteria do the same.

This could have potentially very dramatic effects on our society. Given the vast expansion of the DNA sequences as a result of this innovation, this could greatly increase our ability to store data in these molecules. Furthermore, this has partially opened the eyes of scientists looking to find life outside of earth: this discovery has proven that life could exist somewhere in the universe in a different form than we are familiar with here on earth. Thus, this could massively expand our search in an attempt to answer the burning question: “are we alone?”

While this article was very well written there were a few things that they could have changed. I personally thought it should have been laid out more chronologically because it would have made it both less confusing and easier to follow the process that went into completing this discovery. That being said, I think this article touches on a very important discovery, is well sourced and is effective at conveying its intended purpose.