Scientists discover double meaning in genetic code

[Eflex tha Vybe Scientist]

http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/12/12/scientists-discover-double-meaning-in-genetic-code/
“For over 40 years we have assumed that DNA changes affecting the genetic code solely impact how proteins are made,” said Stamatoyannopoulos. “Now we know that this basic assumption about reading the human genome missed half of the picture. These new findings highlight that DNA is an incredibly powerful information storage device, which nature has fully exploited in unexpected ways.”

“The fact that the genetic code can simultaneously write two kinds of information means that many DNA changes that appear to alter protein sequences may actually cause disease by disrupting gene control programs or even both mechanisms simultaneously,”

 

[arauca]

http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/12/12/scientists-discover-double-meaning-in-genetic-code/
“For over 40 years we have assumed that DNA changes affecting the genetic code solely impact how proteins are made,” said Stamatoyannopoulos. “Now we know that this basic assumption about reading the human genome missed half of the picture. These new findings highlight that DNA is an incredibly powerful information storage device, which nature has fully exploited in unexpected ways.”

“The fact that the genetic code can simultaneously write two kinds of information means that many DNA changes that appear to alter protein sequences may actually cause disease by disrupting gene control programs or even both mechanisms simultaneously,”

That means we are in the woods and are not sure of what we presume to think we know ,

 

[Eflex tha Vybe Scientist]

very exciting news indeed

 

[AndresKiani]

What is it exactly storing though? Wouldn't the DNA have to continuously unwind and wind every time it wants to store messages.

But if this is true than wow, its amazing, I mean, this maybe another key to evolution other than mutations and natural selection.

 

[andy1033]

I would not trust there opinion or conclusion at all on anything. Humans are not smart enough to work out things beyond a certain point, and its down to luck that alot of discoveries are made.

 

[Dinosaur]

Douglas R. Hofstadter (MetaMagical Themas, copyright 1985) claimed that there was some arbitrariness in the genetic code. Its critical functions could be accomplished with slightly different variations of those molecules.

 

[Walter L. Wagner]

http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/12/12/scientists-discover-double-meaning-in-genetic-code/
“For over 40 years we have assumed that DNA changes affecting the genetic code solely impact how proteins are made,” said Stamatoyannopoulos. “Now we know that this basic assumption about reading the human genome missed half of the picture. These new findings highlight that DNA is an incredibly powerful information storage device, which nature has fully exploited in unexpected ways.”

“The fact that the genetic code can simultaneously write two kinds of information means that many DNA changes that appear to alter protein sequences may actually cause disease by disrupting gene control programs or even both mechanisms simultaneously,”

interesting, but the article is very skimpy. examples of dna coding for protein abound. no examples given as to the purported mechanism. it raises the question anew about artificial insertion of novel genes into an organism as to how that might impact gene control programs.