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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."
This is nothing new...I created a DNA molecule out of entirely synthetic components for my 5th grade science fair project. Mine was made out of colorful wooden balls glued to wooden sticks. Theirs appears to be sugar-based, which would probably attract ants, so mine is obviously superior.
As a grad student, I am concerned. When processes like these are automated, people like me are left without direction. How else am I going to fritter away my youth on work for which I'll get neither credit nor compensation?
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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.
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.
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.
Bureaucracy expands to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy.-Oscar Wilde
Simple, buy a Wii/XBox 360/Playstation 3 like the undergrads.
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Now I can store pirated music in my DNA!
I don't know if I'd like that. You start surfing some porn sites and the RIAA slaps you with intent to distribute.
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.
No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
Ummm...that alternate nucleotides were possible was proven 30 years ago. Synthetic DNA was only created 20 years ago.
While the 4 bases used do have some advantages in sysntesis, stability and other effects, tehre is no compelling reason that requiers thoes 4 bases.
I have no idea how this got published...The reason a similar article hadn't been published earlier is because every reputable scientist in the field agrees with you:
Now, I don't really see any immediately obvious applications for this new molecule
This article did nothing to expand our knowledge. It didn't prove anything. All it showed is that the machine they ALREADY had in the lab could do everything the manual they got with it said it could.
BTW, I don't see any responses modded down like you suggested...
Hey, inflammation wants to be free!
Be wary of any facts that confirm your opinion.
It is possible for a very simple "lifeform" with only 54 base pairs to be self-reproducing, but only if it is parasitic. Such "lifeforms" exploit the complex and sophisticated DNA machinery of the host to accomplish reproduction.
I found it amazing that the simplest known lifeform that can reproduce independently is the Mycoplasma genitalium bacteria, with 582970 base pairs! This probably isn't the simplest one that can theoretically exist - it is hard to imagine the right combination out of 4^582970 appearing at random in the pre-life organic soup - but whatever simpler thing existed before it is a mystery, as well as why none of the simpler forms still exist today (if that is the case).
This has been bugging me for some time, and as far as I can tell no one has a good answer.
Dude, _read_ _the_ _fucking_ _article_! Their bases are not the stuff you can buy from the store. Look at the structures, they are not even going to pair with the regular bases. Their iG:iC pair uses DDA (donor, donor, acceptor) sequence of hydrogen bonds instead of ADD in the normal G:C pairs. I'll be surprised if you used similar 'alternate nucleotides' for the 'past 20 years' to 'create random mutations'. There is a practical use for these and is not for making 'random mutations'. Having alternative to DNA and RNA is one of the prerequisites in creating synthetic organisms with different genetics and biochemistry. Imagine starting the the evolution from scratch, or creating microbes for industry that can't exchange genetic information with the rest of the living organisms on earth.