A study has shown that a living organism can make a silicon-carbon bond. This is something that only chemists have done before, possibly making science fiction a step closer to becoming reality.

A team of scientists at the California Institute of Technology has "bred" a bacterial protein with the ability to make the man-made bonds. This discovery could impact many industries such as pharmaceuticals.

One of the industries that would greatly benefit from the discovery of creating silicon-carbon bonds from living organisms is pharmaceuticals. In the study, a team of scientists revealed a technique to persuade silicon to bond naturally with carbon. The research shows that biology can be used to manufacture these environment-friendly and more affordable silicon bonds.

Silicon is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust. However, it does not naturally bond to carbon. With the discovery, scientists say that it would be more sustainable and less expensive to create the same bonds using biology.

To support their findings, the researchers created the bond using a process of artificial selection known as directed evolution. They started with a protein found in the genomic sequence of Rhodothermus marinus. Dubbed as cytochrome c enzyme, this protein is responsible for transporting electrons around the cell.

The scientists modified the DNA coding for the protein and tested the mutant enzymes for their ability to make organosilicon compounds. After three rounds, they created an enzyme that can make silicon-carbon bonds 15 times more effectively and efficiently than the best catalysts made by chemists in the laboratory.

The researchers say that silicon has long intrigued scientists largely because it is so abundant. However, in the past, scientists have artificially bonded silicon and carbon. No organism has been known to create the bond naturally.

The plans for the silicon-based organisms are still unclear. However, the researchers said that they do not expect to see silicon lifeforms on Earth any time soon. But the process they developed could be used in various scenarios, including pharmacy, agriculture, and fuel specialization.