Scientists reported Wednesday that they had taken a significant step toward altering the fundamental alphabet of life — creating an organism with an expanded artificial genetic code in its DNA. <br /> <br />The accomplishment might eventually lead to organisms that can make medicines or industrial products that cells with only the natural genetic code cannot. <br /> <br />The scientists behind the work at the Scripps Research Institute have already formed a company to try to use the technique to develop new antibiotics, vaccines and other products, though a lot more work needs to be done before this is practical.
