Year in review: Life’s complexity recoded

Scientists create variants of natural DNA

yeast cells

RISE UP  Baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, seen under a microscope, ferment fruit and grain into alcohol and make bread rise. Now researchers have taken the first step toward making a synthetic version of the organism that may perform feats regular yeast never could.

MASUR/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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Scientists made serious headway this year in tackling why life is both so darn complicated and so darn simple.