Frankenstein has finally arrived. Synthetically created DNA seen as huge advancement

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
4/22/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Scientists replace natural sugar component with polymers

It's something from Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory: DNA-new synthetic compounds called XNAs can also store and copy genetic information, a new study says. Called a "big advancement," these artificial compounds can also be made to evolve in the lab. The discovery has momentous implications about the creation of life.

Researchers first made XNA building blocks to six different genetic systems by replacing the natural sugar component of DNA with one of six different polymers, or synthetic chemical compounds.

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to study co-author John Chaput of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA are composed of four bases -- A, G, C, and T. which are attached to the bases of sugars and phosphates.

Researchers first made XNA building blocks to six different genetic systems by replacing the natural sugar component of DNA with one of six different polymers, or synthetic chemical compounds.

Led by Vitor Pinheiro of the U.K.'s Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, the group 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 and again - in essence, 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.

The experiment proved that "beyond heredity, specific XNAs have the capacity for Darwinian evolution.

"Thus, heredity and evolution, two hallmarks of life, are not limited to DNA and RNA."

Furthermore, all of XNA'S actions are "completely controlled by experimentalists-it's 100 percent unnatural," study co-author Chaput noted.

Such control implies that scientists can "use [XNA] to ask very basic questions in biology," such as about the origins of life, Chaput said.

"It's possible that life didn't begin with DNA and proteins like we see today -- it may have begun with something much, much simpler," he said.

A scientist could potentially evolve XNA to discover various functions that would have been important for early life. Overall, he said, the new discovery is "pretty cool . and very powerful."

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: DNA, XNA, evolution, genetics, science

NEWSLETTERS »

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 2 of 2 Comments

DLL
1 year ago
Science is only able to monkey around with the material life constituents,the mystery of life is still well beyond the understanding of science. As the old saying goes the more you learn the more you realize how much you don't know. The mystery of life is the mystery of eternity as it would take an eternity and our puny minds could still not comprehend it all. This was just the lesson that Dr Frankenstein learned. The creature that he created was conflicted and tortured,suffering an identity crisis,needing a woman like it self,that it's creator did not wish to create. The poor creature could not be accepted,it wanted a life alone with another like itself. It wanted love not spectacle.The moral was that what is naturally created life is beautiful as acceptable and what is un-natural is possibly unacceptable and a great mistake. With all scientific experimentation,proceed with caution,exercise good judgement,act with discretion and respect and concern for all of humanity.
Juneau Alaska
1 year ago
Frankenstein? Frankenstein killed people. He was a monster. How many people turned away without reading the rest of this exciting discovery?

Titles like Frankenstein may appeal to the anti-GMO crowd who fail to see the success of modern agriculture at reducing world hunger. And titles like Frankenstein does nothing to support the claims that the Catholic Church is pro-science.

How about, "Synthetic Molecules Can Evolve?" How about, Chemistry to Biology, Scientists Getting Closer to the Answer? How about, "Yawheh Is So Great And Powerful That He Is Letting Man Get Closer To Discovering How To Produce Life From Non-Life?"

Mike

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment