Team leader : Valérie Pézo (DR, CEA)
The Xenome team designs, builds and evolves microorganisms with artificial genetic systems, whose information is carried by xenobiotic nucleic acids (XNA). The proliferation and activity of these organisms are conditioned to the supply of XNA, placing them under the strict control of the user. Such "safe" GMOs open up new horizons for biotechnology applications; as non-natural life forms, they also contribute to a better understanding of natural organisms.