The Effect of “In Vivo“ Incorporation of α-Aminobutyric Acid into E. coli Proteins

There are only 20 primary amino acids specified in the genetic code, yet some 140 amino acids and amino acid derivatives are found in various proteins in different organisms (Uly and Wold 1977). Living organisms were not designed to use 20 primary amino acids; it evolved by random mutation. Since the rules of evolution remain the same now as always, i.e., nothing is immutable, it should be possible to force a cell to grow on an amino acid analog.