Comments on: Second-order information encoded in DNA http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/03/07/second-order-information-encoded-in-dna/ EthanZ's musings on Africa, media and international development Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:45:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: quixote http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/03/07/second-order-information-encoded-in-dna/comment-page-1/#comment-173274 quixote Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:17:16 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1283#comment-173274 (Well, I'm a biologist, but not all that close to type of molecular biology you're talking about. Here goes anyway, though.) The relationship between DNA packaging, regulation of gene expression, and transcription has been known for some time. Widom's contribution is, I think, more the discovery that the sequences necessary for "bendability" occur in specific patterns. Which is very interesting. The significance of the research on this topic is that once we really understand DNA packaging and gene regulation, we'll be able to turn genes on an off. Ultimately, that could mean regrowing limbs, or damaged spinal nerves, or Islets of Langerhans, or, in fact, just about anything. Exciting times. (Well, I’m a biologist, but not all that close to type of molecular biology you’re talking about. Here goes anyway, though.)

The relationship between DNA packaging, regulation of gene expression, and transcription has been known for some time. Widom’s contribution is, I think, more the discovery that the sequences necessary for “bendability” occur in specific patterns. Which is very interesting.

The significance of the research on this topic is that once we really understand DNA packaging and gene regulation, we’ll be able to turn genes on an off. Ultimately, that could mean regrowing limbs, or damaged spinal nerves, or Islets of Langerhans, or, in fact, just about anything.

Exciting times.

]]>