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Dna Synthesis

All articles tagged with #dna synthesis

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Bacteria Build DNA Without a Template, Using the Enzyme as Blueprint

Stanford researchers studying the bacterial DRT3 defense system found that the Drt3b polymerase can synthesize DNA without a separate template, with the protein's own shape acting as the blueprint. The three-part complex—Drt3a, Drt3b, and a non-coding RNA—enables self-contained DNA construction, a previously unseen mechanism with implications for biology, evolution, and future biotech; understanding its role in antiviral defense and potential engineering remains to be explored, and the work was published in Science.

via ScienceAlert|

#anti-phage-defense #bacteria #dna-synthesis

science-and-technology4 months ago•4 min saved

AI's Potential to Design Deadly Biological Weapons

Scientists have used AI to design viruses from scratch and to modify toxins to bypass safety checks, raising concerns about the potential for AI-assisted bioweapons. While these advances can aid in medical treatments like phage therapy, they also pose dual-use risks, prompting efforts to strengthen screening protocols, regulatory policies, and international standards to prevent misuse. Despite technological progress, significant challenges remain before AI-designed pathogens could become a real threat, emphasizing the need for robust biosecurity measures.

via Earth.com|

#ai #biosecurity #bioweapons

science9 months ago•5 min saved

Gene Differences Between Humans and Neanderthals May Explain Their Disappearance

Research identifies a genetic difference in the ADSL enzyme between modern humans and Neanderthals, with experiments in mice suggesting this variation may have influenced behavioral traits and contributed to the survival of modern humans over extinct relatives, though implications for human evolution remain uncertain.

via Live Science|

#adsl-enzyme #dna-synthesis #genetic-differences