First DNA Molecule Constructed from Mostly Synthetic Components

ScienceDaily is reporting that Japanese chemists have created the world's first DNA molecule comprised of almost entirely artificial components. The breakthrough could lead to advances in both medicine and technology, possibly utilizing the massive storage capacity of DNA. "In the new study, Masahiko Inouye and colleagues point out that scientists have tried for years to develop artificial versions of DNA in order to extend its amazing information storage capabilities. As the genetic blueprint of all life forms, DNA uses the same set of four basic building blocks, known as bases, to code for a variety of proteins used in cell functioning and development. Until now, scientists have only been able to craft DNA molecules with one or a few artificial parts, including certain bases."

Comments

Stress on base pairs

[Orleron]

I don't think the summary stresses the base pairs enough. We have been able to synthesize DNA from the regular naturally occurring base pairs for a long time. This article is special because it talks about synthesizing DNA from unnatural base pairs, which several labs are working on, albeit with bacteria not chemical synthesis.

I also detect that some folks may not understand the implications. Right now the given combination of natural DNA base pairs can only code for the 20 base amino acids used in nature. If we could create a DNA system that can code for other types of amino acids (in addition to or instead of), we would be able to make some very interesting proteins that would do gods know what, but would make for some great possibilities.

Doesn't anyone RTFA?

[mck9]

No, this isn't ordinary DNA produced by synthetic means. If that were the case, it would be of little interest to anyone but a few specialists.

What's new is that THIS synthetic DNA uses a different set of bases. not the usual C, G, T, and A.

Presumably, therefore, it cannot usefully be read or replicated by the usual cellular machinery. That incompatibility makes it, arguably, less of a biohazard (or maybe more of a biohazard, since it might bind to the cellular machinery and gum up the works).

The potential applications for this synthetic DNA apparently involve using it as a structural component of nanostructures. Theoretically it could be used for high-density data storage, though it's hard to imagine how the information could be either written or read.

Re:Whoopee!

[crmarvin42]

It's obvious that you didn't read the article and that for some reason those with mod points haven't either (as evidenced by the 3 previous responses to your post being modded down despite attempting to correct your mistake).

They created a DNA like molecule with out using the four molecules cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine. Now, I don't really see any immediately obvious applications for this new molecule, but it proves to me that it is possible for life to have evolved a similar information storing mechanism distinct from the one used by all life on earth and that is interesting.

Re:Whoopee!

[Sockatume]

You seem to conflate several rather mundane processes without having a clue what they are or how they relate to the story at hand. Also FYI DNA is not just "sugars"

PCR, the polymerase chain reaction, takes a quantity of DNA and "multiplies it" so you have more to work with Everything in your jar is replicated blindly.

DNA fingerprinting chops up a mixture of DNA strands at specific base sequences, then the resultant mulch is labelled (radioactively or otherwise) at other specific base pair sequences, and the whole mess is sorted by fragment size to produce a unique fingerprint. Again, this is a blind process.

DNA sequencing allows one to obtain the sequence of bases in a DNA strand by a process tangentally related to DNA fingerprinting, but far more time consuming and finnicky as you want to make sure you're sequencing the right stuff.

Actually building a DNA single strand, with a specific sequence of perhaps six nucleotides, from raw feedstocks, was until fairly recently a nightmarish process involving umpteen protective groups and studying it caused me to swear off organic chemistry for good. Fortunately there are much simpler automated processes available but of course that wouldn't have made for a very challenging university module.

However, those oh-so-efficient processes are optimised for oligonucleotide chains of your common or garden five NA bases. This team have created a DNA double-helix using entirely synthetic bases which is a pretty novel thing IMO.