Friday, September 07, 2007

Molecules autonomously propelled by polymerizing DNA strands

Scientists from the California Institute of Technology have fabricated a motor that runs autonomously, and is powered only by the free energy of DNA hybridization. The molecular motor was inspired by bacterial pathogens such as Rickettsia rickettsii that propel themselves through host cells by polymerizing protein "comet tails." The synthetic mimic operates by polymerizing a double-helical DNA tail out of metastable DNA hairpins (a pattern named for its 180-degree turn).

2 comments:

e said...

If we take this story and graft it to your August 16 post about Israeli researchers taking the first step towards building a truly “alive” computer chip (With the use of chemical stimulation, Ben-Jacob and Baruchi discovered that they could trigger a man-made network of neurons to imprint patterns - the same process by which the brain creates memories. This discovery marks an early but crucial step toward the invention of a computer chip with the capability to create and store information the same way our own brains do. By linking the network of neurons to software which reads the neural activity, the network and the computer can work together to carry out tasks of which computers are currently incapable), how long will it take before we get a living power source powering a living computer?
Singularists, start your engines….

Anonymous said...

Monsanto used to have a slogan:
"Without chemicals..Life would be impossible" but so less profitable ..Mac recently posted an article on Morgellons..now being considered a legitimat disease which is being linked to either military modified form lymes disease created to destroy enemy livestock and or nanotechnology related fibers that use the body as an energy source and replicate.these fibers burn only at 1700 farenheit (450 for a piece of paper) an appear to be stimulated by EMF and other peculiar properties as if communicating..or recieving signals

http://theparanormalreport.com/morgellons-new-disease-or-manmade-weapon-of-terror.html

If valid all these little creepy crawlers may transform us into the main engine..but for what purpose..who knows. How evolution will respond to this assault on her once exclusive domain is also anyones guess but I am even more disturbed that there is a chance we will wind up looking like shag carpets when all is said and done

Another interesting thing I have noted how quickly things are developing between posts as opposed to months and years!

SyS