Synthetic DNA Created, Evolves on Its Own

[JFN1]

Astonishing News:

Step aside, DNA—new synthetic compounds called XNAs can also store and copy genetic information, a new study says.

And, in a "big advancement," these artificial compounds can also be made to evolve in the lab, according to study co-author John Chaput of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University.

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The team—led by Vitor Pinheiro of the U.K.'s Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology—then evolved enzymes, called polymerases, that can make XNA from DNA, and others that can change XNA back into DNA.

This copying and translating ability allowed for genetic sequences to be copied and passed down again and again—artificial heredity.

. . .

Last, the team determined that HNA, one of the six XNA polymers, could respond to selective pressure in a test tube.

As would be expected for DNA, the stressed HNA evolved into different forms.

This is simply flabbergasting. Are we on the way to engineering ourselves some competitors, or are there other implications (cyborg, rejuvenation, immortatlity, etc.) even more frightening and others totally exciting?

[dipsydoodle]

1. What could possibly go wrong.

.

[eqfan592]

10. Many discoveries in science can be used for both good and ill. (nt)

[RegieRocker]

2. I only want to lmow how to stop evolution

I have been evolving since day 0.

[yodermon]

3. i for one welcome our new Golem overlords

[Marrah_G]

4. It's like the first 5 minutes of a dozen Sci-fi movies rolled into one! nt

[bongbong]

5. DNA V2.0

Next step: combine the artificial DNA with robotics & nano-tech. Put them all in a big pot & apply a few million lines of software.

VIOLA! Arnold Schwartzenegger steps out of the pot.

[provis99]

6. dandy. Next stop: Killer Androids.

[solarman350]

7. Eventually, he'll have to have "The Talk" with his Father..

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[Drew Richards]

8. We Are Borg resistence is Futile

You will be assimilated.

[FailureToCommunicate]

9. ...and the result is:

[TACFIRE]

11. It Did NOT Evolve...!

It changed over time. According to G-d's will.
----"Indiana: Land of Less science and more magic"

[Posteritatis]

12. Wow, ten of the first eleven responses are snark or kneejerk fear. (nt)

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. Seems like the 'snark' mostly means 'we don't approve'

Laughin just to keep from crying...