Bringing DNA computers to life
Article Abstract:
Living organisms carry out complex physical processes under the direction of digital information. Biochemical reactions and ultimately an entire organism's operation are ruled by instructions stored in its genome, encoded in sequences of nucleic acids and when the workings of bimolecular machines inside cells that process DNA and RNA are compared to Alan Turing's universal programmable computing machine, striking similarities emerge.
Publication Name: Scientific American
Subject: Science and technology
ISSN: 0036-8733
Year: 2006
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Pollution in solution: Drug-resistance DNA as the latest freshwater threat
Article Abstract:
DNA that provides resistance to germs against medicines are increasingly polluting water, presenting a challenge to effectively destroy these genes during water treatment. This most likely results from seepage of antibiotics used in humans and animals into the environment, which leads to antibiotic resistance in the microbes. Research is on to disrupt DNA sequences in germs present in water in order to inactivate them.
Publication Name: Scientific American
Subject: Science and technology
ISSN: 0036-8733
Year: 2007
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Genomes for all
Article Abstract:
New approaches to reading DNA reduce cost by cutting preparatory steps, radically miniaturizing equipment and sequencing millions of molecules simultaneously. Reaching the goal of low-cost sequencing would raise new questions regarding how personal genetic information is best used and by whom.
Publication Name: Scientific American
Subject: Science and technology
ISSN: 0036-8733
Year: 2006
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