TWiM #80: Hurling fleas and designer chromosomes

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Elio Schaechter, and Michele Swanson.

Vincent, Elio, and Michele discuss how to synthesize a designer yeast chromosome, and deciphering the genetic changes path that allowed Yersinia pestis to be transmitted by fleas.

Links for this episode:

• Total synthesis of a yeast chromosome (Science)
• Evolution of Y. pestis to flea-borne transmission (Cell Host Micr)
• Proventricular valve (Wikipedia)
• Image: flea with Y. pestis proventricular mass
• Letters read on TWiM 80

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