Mutating every DNA letter of a genome shows surprising effects — and the limits of AI0

• SCIENCE, Science / Health, Science Mission Directorate, scientists, Space, Space Communications & Navigation Program, Space Launch System (SLS), Space Telescope, space-x-ipo, SpaceX
• September 2, 2026

A computer-generated model of the capsid of bacteriophage ΦX174. Credit: Laguna Design/SPL Few biological systems have been studied as exhaustively as the phage ΦX174, or phi X. Yet a new study shows that scientists still have loads to learn. The virus’s genome is a circular single-stranded DNA that features 5,386 nucleotides and encodes 11 proteins.