HACHIMOJI DNA

Marion &^ Linda, in Borrego days of yore.

I am getting in over my head, that’s for sure.  After many encounters with basic genetics I am pretty comfortable with DNA, RNA, proteins, and how they all work together to construct the glory that is us.  I also can tell you glibly about the essence of DNA:  sugar-phosphate support in the form of a twisted ladder, with “rungs” consisting of four “bases”, a, c, g, and t, with t fitting together with a to form one kind of rung, and c mating with g to yield another.  If an accident occurs and a hooks up with g, for instance, the DNA molecule is distorted and – possibly – there’s all hell to pay.

Well, now scientists at several institutions have manufactured four totally new bases, and moreover succeeded in inserting them in natural DNA, to form to form what the call hachimoji  (Japanese for eight letter) DNA.  It seems that HM DNA can be copied onto messenger RNA and then run through a ribosome to produce – what? – new, synthetic proteins perhaps, provided the amino acids called for already exist.  Scary.  In the meantime HM DNA may earn its keep as a data-storage device.  There also is some mention of new drugs.

So, stay tuned.  No telling what the guys in white coats will come up with next.

Oh, best to say that HM DNA is said not to be a threat to escape the lab and attack your house pets.  Seems it has to be fed constantly, just to stay alive.

Lots of useful links to hachimoji  DNA.  Just trust yourself to Google