Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Elio Schaechter, and Michele Swanson. 

Vincent, Elio, and Michele discuss how to synthesize a designer yeast chromosome, and deciphering the genetic changes path that allowed Yersinia pestis to be transmitted by fleas.

Links for this episode:

• Total synthesis of a yeast chromosome (Science)
• Evolution of Y. pestis to flea-borne transmission (Cell Host Micr)
• Proventricular valve (Wikipedia)
• Image: flea with Y. pestis proventricular mass
• Letters read on TWiM 80

Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to [email protected], or call them in to 908-312-0760. You can also post articles that you would like us to discuss at microbeworld.org and tag them with twim.