Scientists have discovered a second way to read and interpret DNA code, which could have implications on how doctors look at certain issues with disease and health.
According to a news release, the research is part of the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements Project, or ENCODE. The project's objective is to determine how and where directions for biological functions are stored in the human genome.
Scientists at the University of Washington discovered that genomes use genetic code not only to write information about proteins, but to write in two separate languages. The second language was discovered to lie beneath the first and is believed to instruct the cell on how genes are controlled.
"For over 40 years we have assumed that DNA changes affecting the genetic code solely impact how proteins are made," said study lead researcher Dr. John Stamatoyannopoulos. "Now we know that this basic assumption about reading the human genome missed half of the picture. These new findings highlight that DNA is an incredibly powerful information storage device, which nature has fully exploited in unexpected ways."
Genetic code's alphabet is made up of 64 letters called codons, which the research team named "duons" for their second meaning. The two meanings seem to work together, with one controlling proteins and the other stabilizing certain controls to benefit the proteins.
"The fact that the genetic code can simultaneously write two kinds of information means that many DNA changes that appear to alter protein sequences may actually cause disease by disrupting gene control programs or even both mechanisms simultaneously," said Stamatoyannopoulos.
Duons should help scientists and physicians interpret a patient's genome allowing for more accurate and effective disease diagnoses and treatment.
The researchers published their work in the journal Science. The National Human Genome Research Institute funded the UW team's multiyear study.
I love it I love it I love it. New horizons, baby. A whole new puzzle to decipher.
It is also not all that new. Transcription regulation within the genome itself has been known about for a loooong time. That is mostly what "junk" DNA does. It acts as spacers, gets methylated to control unwinding (and thus transcription), contains binding sites so all or some of given genes can be up or downregulated by proteins within the cell etc. The fact that the coding regions also do this is not shocking. It is not stunning. In fact, that this is a possibility has long been recognized.
Think of it this way. The coding sequence consists of word-equivalents. The regulatory regions the analogy equivalents of grammar. This? This is the equivalent of verb conjugation. They have not discovered a new language. They have figured out that an aspect of grammar exists.
As usual the ENCODE project is engaging in over-hype and shameless self-promotion.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
Indeed - I didn't know about the other layer of complexity, though it certainly makes sense. I can't really blame them for shameless self-promotion, since I certainly didn't know this before the article. Still though, Ben's added perspective not only makes sense, it's also hilarious.
I'm imagining most biologists looking at this group as a bunch of "camera-grabbing fucksticks" now, and it's making me laugh.
"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes."
- William Gibson
Josh wrote:What? There's nothing weird about having a pet housefly. He smuggles cigarettes for me.
Comrade Tortoise wrote:Think of it this way. The coding sequence consists of word-equivalents. The regulatory regions the analogy equivalents of grammar. This? This is the equivalent of verb conjugation. They have not discovered a new language. They have figured out that an aspect of grammar exists.
So, we're not True Named... we're whole damn True Sentences?
Dogs are Man's Best Friend
Cats are Man's Adorable Little Serial Killers
