Scientists create artificial DNA molecule

By editing chromosomes - the DNA molecules that carry an organism's genetic information - Chinese scientists have created a yeast strain with all the genetic information fused into a single chromosome, rather than the customary 16 for this species.

It marks the first time that organisms that naturally have multiple chromosomes have been artificially transformed into a single-chromosome form, scientists said. The modified organisms have shown no change in their life functions from their natural counterparts, they said.

The research team from Shanghai said the breakthrough may provide possible insights into further research on telomeres - the "caps" on either end of a chromosome, which are closely related to aging and disease - and the effectiveness of new medications targeting such "caps".