Aussie scientists find new DNA structure
- 6 years ago
THE GENETIC BLUEPRINT — Scientists have discovered a new type of DNA structure, according to research published in the journal Nature Chemistry.
The Independent reports that the structure has been sighted previously, but this is the first time researchers have found it inside living cells.
Normal DNA is made up of bases, coded as letters. These are adenine, thymine cytosine and guanine. Normally cytosine binds to guanine, and vice versa, but in the new structure cytosine was found to pair with cytosine.
According to the Independent, scientists reckon the new structure may be partly responsible for reading DNA and turning them into useful substances. Gizmodo reports they may act as a sort of switch for controlling gene expression, but could mean nothing at all.
The Independent reports that the structure has been sighted previously, but this is the first time researchers have found it inside living cells.
Normal DNA is made up of bases, coded as letters. These are adenine, thymine cytosine and guanine. Normally cytosine binds to guanine, and vice versa, but in the new structure cytosine was found to pair with cytosine.
According to the Independent, scientists reckon the new structure may be partly responsible for reading DNA and turning them into useful substances. Gizmodo reports they may act as a sort of switch for controlling gene expression, but could mean nothing at all.