Scientists Decode Microbes, Usher in Biotech Era

Discovery of unique genetic code in microbes opens new bioengineering pathways

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory were part of a team that identified the existence of a unique genetic code in microbes that can expand cellular building blocks in living organisms. The discovery gives researchers a new understanding of microbial genetics and opens a novel bioengineering pathway for innovations such as the development of custom microbes that produce new fuels, chemicals and materials.

Why it matters

The findings could accelerate the development of better drug therapies and advance U.S. competitiveness in the biotechnology sector. Insight into how plants and microbes, including Archaea, communicate and interact at the molecular level is key to understanding and engineering better bioenergy plants and the microbiomes essential to plant health.

The details

Researchers found that some microbes called Archaea have developed the capability to reinterpret the TAG stop codon signal to instead add another building block - a rare amino acid called pyrrolysine (Pyl) that helps cells customize protein functions and may play a role in their tolerance of extreme environments. ORNL's mass spectrometry capabilities confirmed that certain Archaea consistently incorporate Pyl into their protein where their genome uses TAG codons.

  • The discovery was detailed in a study published in Science in 2026.

The players

Robert Hettich

Lead for ORNL's Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, who experimentally confirmed the presence and function of the alternative genetic code in Archaea.

Samantha Peters

ORNL researcher who used mass spectrometry to measure the precise molecular masses and amino acid sequences of protein fragments to confirm the presence of pyrrolysine.

Jillian Banfield

Researcher at UC Berkeley's Innovative Genomics Institute, who led the overall research team.

Veronika Kivenson

Researcher at UC Berkeley's Innovative Genomics Institute, who collaborated on the research team.

Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The national laboratory that was part of the research team and provided key mass spectrometry capabilities to confirm the findings.

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What they’re saying

“The findings show that the genetic code is not fixed; it can change naturally over time.”

— Robert Hettich, Lead for ORNL's Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group (Mirage News)

“The project also demonstrated the utility of this knowledge for engineering proteins for innovative biological systems.”

— Robert Hettich, Lead for ORNL's Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group (Mirage News)

What’s next

Researchers could use the new protein building blocks to develop custom microbes tolerant of industrial processes for new fuels, chemicals and materials or to improve plant microbiomes to boost bioenergy crop performance. The knowledge might also help engineer proteins for medicines that bind more precisely to cancer cells and last longer in the body with fewer side effects.

The takeaway

This discovery expands scientists' understanding of microbial genetics and opens up new bioengineering possibilities, from developing custom microbes for industrial applications to engineering better drug therapies. It also provides valuable insights into how plants and microbes communicate at the molecular level, which is key for improving bioenergy crops and their essential microbiomes.