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Miniaturized DNA Sewing Machines

Posted by kdawson on from the make-it-sew dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "Japanese researchers have found a way to build long threads of DNA using miniaturized hooks and bobbins. In fact, they've demonstrated how to manipulate delicate DNA chains without breaking them. They've designed these laser-directed microdevices to pick up and manipulate individual molecules of DNA. The scientists have used optical tweezers to catch and move these microdevices, which could be used in the future to detect genetic disorders such as Down syndrome." Here's a link to the journal article.

3 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. Slippery Slope by negRo_slim · · Score: 4, Insightful

    which could be used in the future to detect genetic disorders such as Down's syndrome.

    But doesn't that in turn just open up a whole 'nother can of worms? There are people out there opposed to such screening, especially parents of children with downs syndrome... This article seems to put it in a good perspective.

    I'm all for using the tools we have created to better our lot but at some point we might be screening for gentic markers that effect personality and help to create the individual. Just as no one is wise enough (IMHO) to take another's life for any reason, I don't think we are wise enough to be scanning our dna for anything but the most flagrant of errors. The kind of problems that wouldn't allow such a person to live a normal and fufilling life... Instead we move one step closer to designer children.

    Today it's Downs Syndrome free, tomarrow it's, "Can I get a medium #1 with blond hair blue eyes, here's 1 egg and a table spoon of semen" "Thank you, your order number is 42".

    --
    On the Oregon Cost born and raised, On the beach is where I spent most of my days
    1. Re:Slippery Slope by wild_quinine · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There are people out there opposed to such screening, especially parents of children with downs syndrome...

      ... who it is likely cannot seperate their love of their own children from the fact that Downs Syndrome is bloody undesirable.

      Nobody is advocating killing their twelve year old kid with lasers.

      I don't think that the right of an unborn fetus to life trumps the rights of a parent to have a life.

      I have a great deal of respect for parents who have brought up children with Downs Syndrome, because it is hard, and thankless, and the amount of patience, time, energy and love that you have to put in is a burden many folks simply could not bear.

      If science can give me a choice, that cross will not be mine to carry.

    2. Re:Slippery Slope by Xzzy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      As someone who's had to live with a bum set of genes for all of his life, I fully support genetic screening if the parents desire it.

      Way I see it, the "we shouldn't play god!" argument breaks down really fast when the end result is a child who has to suffer a diminished quality of life. I couldn't imagine a more cruel thing to do than let myself reproduce and force a child to live with a disease that I was fully aware they could inherit.

      Give me a test to filter out embryos that have asthma, down's, diabetes, migraines, or whatever defect you can name, and I'd do it in a second.