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posted by cmn32480 on Friday August 21 2015, @05:40PM   Printer-friendly
from the changing-DNA-like-underwear dept.

This press release from the University of East Anglia tells us:

Scientists have found a way to "switch" the structure of DNA using copper salts and EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) -- an agent commonly found in shampoo and other household products. It was previously known that the structure of a piece of DNA could be changed using acid, which causes it to fold up into what is known as an "i-motif." But new research published today in the journal Chemical Communications reveals that the structure can be switched a second time into a hair-pin structure using positively-charged copper (copper cations). This change can also be reversed using EDTA. The applications for this discovery include nanotechnology -- where DNA is used to make tiny machines, and in DNA-based computing -- where computers are built from DNA rather than silicon.

Wouldn't a chemical-based switch make for slower performance?


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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Friday August 21 2015, @07:04PM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Friday August 21 2015, @07:04PM (#225980) Journal

    Copper salts - check.
    Shampoo - check.
    Wife in the bathtub - check.

    If you don't hear from me again, you'll know this experiment blew up on me.

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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by skullz on Friday August 21 2015, @07:22PM

    by skullz (2532) on Friday August 21 2015, @07:22PM (#225985)

    Well, if you are successful you will have created your own DNA computer.

    It gets delivered in 9 months and comes with a mandatory 18 year support contract.

    • (Score: 4, Funny) by mhajicek on Friday August 21 2015, @09:39PM

      by mhajicek (51) on Friday August 21 2015, @09:39PM (#226049)

      It takes several years to install enough updates to be useful, then after a few more it stops accepting commands.

      --
      The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
  • (Score: 2) by Tork on Friday August 21 2015, @07:24PM

    by Tork (3914) Subscriber Badge on Friday August 21 2015, @07:24PM (#225987)
    This sorta sounds like how my dad invented the automatic lawn mower.
    --
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