Yale Researchers Find New RNA Structures 90
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ScuttleMonkey
from the micro-steps-for-mankind dept.
from the micro-steps-for-mankind dept.
Science Daily is reporting that researchers from Yale have discovered "very large RNA structures within previously unstudied bacteria that appear crucial to basic biological functions such as helping viruses infect cells or allowing genes to 'jump' to different parts of the chromosome." Ronald Breaker, professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale, stated that this would be equivalent to protein scientists finding a whole new class of enzymes. "The Breaker laboratory has used the explosion of DNA sequence information and new computer programs to discover six of the top twelve largest bacterial RNAs just in the last several years. One of the newly discovered RNAs, called GOLLD, is the third largest and most complex RNA discovered to date, and appears to be used by viruses that infect bacteria. Another large RNA revealed in the study, called HEARO, has a genetic structure that suggests it is part of a type of 'jumping gene' that can move to new locations in the bacterial chromosome."
Curious choice of analogies (Score:5, Funny)
Thanks. That enzyme analogy is really helpful to people in the bio research field.
But this is slashdot. We expect more from our analogists. Specifically, we expect a car analogy (no, a pizza analogy does not suffice).
Perhaps discovering this new class of RNA structures is like discovering a new type of fuel injection system, so we better optimize fuel-air mixture for power and efficiency. Perhaps it's like discovering a new type of rubber for our tires, for better traction and wear. Perhaps it's like discovering a new type of battery so we can all get cheap, quickly charging, long-range electrical cars.
But most likely it's not like any of those things, and we'll never really understand the implications of this discovery, because the people who really understand it didn't bother to give us the necessary car analogy.
Bastards.
Re:Curious choice of analogies (Score:4, Funny)
Its like this. There are trucks, and there are station wagons. Then all of a sudden you discover a new type of vehicle called an SUV that is a station wagon, but it looks like truck.
Re:Yale Evolution and Behaviour Lectures (Score:3, Funny)
One of the main reasons I don't believe in the man-induced climate change theory is that it comes from the same group of scientists who've allowed themselves to interpret data in support of evolution vs creation. If they are so screwed up on that, they probably are on the climate change thing as well.
Re:From the original Nature article... (Score:1, Funny)
So does this explain the recent rise in the value of GOLLD?
Re:RNA world (Score:4, Funny)
two whoppers for five bucks! AWESOME!
Move definition up (Score:3, Funny)
From the article: (Move definition up) RNA molecules are best known for carrying information from genes encoded in DNA to ribosomes
Are there (Move definition down) RNA molecules too?
Do these articles use the same editors as slashdot?
Pah! (Score:2, Funny)