tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798087526457899635.post3348252168186929382..comments2023-08-25T08:18:22.725-05:00Comments on Gateway Skepticism: Scientists Create Synthetic DNASt. Louis Skeptical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02355401081267949838noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798087526457899635.post-10542400449324083272008-01-25T16:49:00.000-06:002008-01-25T16:49:00.000-06:00An article about this is up at The New York Times....An article about this is up <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/science/24cnd-genome.html" REL="nofollow">at <I>The New York Times</I></A>.<BR/><BR/>Some highlights: <BR/>1. The bacterium they "reproduced" is an <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycoplasma_genitalium" REL="nofollow">STD</A>.<BR/><BR/>2. From the NYT article, <I>The team also added some DNA segments to the genome to serve as “watermarks,” allowing scientists to distinguish the synthetic genome from the natural one.<BR/><BR/>That raises new possibilities of using microbes as a method of communication. Dr. Venter said the watermarks contain coded messages. Sleuths will have to determine the amino acid sequence coded for by the watermarks, in order to decipher the message. “It’s a fun thing that has a practical application,” he said.</I><BR/><BR/>Awesome. Secret codes in synthetic genomes. I love it.Flavinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15080348139889212664noreply@blogger.com