Project description
Is it possible to rewrite life’s alphabet?
If DNA is nature’s code, would it be possible to rewrite it with new letters? The ERC-funded OrthoScript project is developing a breakthrough platform to synthesise, replicate, and evolve DNA and RNA using alternative genetic alphabets. By engineering bespoke polymerase enzymes, the team aims to create high-fidelity systems that go beyond nature’s four-letter code, increasing information density and unlocking entirely new forms of molecular data storage. These tools could also enable orthogonal genetic systems, paving the way for revolutionary advances in synthetic biology, evolvability studies, and biotech applications. OrthoScript reimagines the building blocks of life and what they could be used for.
Objective
In OrthoScript, we aim to build a technology platform for the efficient synthesis, replication and evolution of DNA and RNA comprising alternative genetic alphabets that are either orthogonal to the natural alphabet or expand its combinatorial potential and information density. Our approach involves the leveraging of protein design and evolution approaches to generate bespoke DNA and RNA polymerase enzymes for the encoded synthesis and sequencing of expanded genetic alphabets with high efficiency and fidelity. If successful our approach unlocks the potential of these new alphabets for information storage and enables a systematic investigation of the relationship between complexity (informational density), evolvability and phenotypic diversity in informational biopolymers. The same polymerases are critical for the scalable integration of an expanded alphabet into an orthogonal replisome in a living cell. If realised, we provide a technology platform for the encoding of information in expanded, orthogonal genetic alphabets both in vitro and in bacteria with transformative potential in applications like molecular information storage and genetic code expansion.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
SN2 1FL SWINDON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.