The Bizarre Art Nature and Science of DNA
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While DNA is largely a convoluted science, recent eccentric ventures and alternative studies into this realm may be even more zany than the science and technology itself. Here we will explore the bizarre world of art, animals and little-known facts of DNA.
Crystal DNA art sculpture. Photo JPC Talbot
Bizarre DNA Factoids
• Your entire DNA sequence could fill 200 1,000-page phone directories.
• If all DNA was unwrapped in your cells it could stretch as far as the moon — 6,000 times.
• At 60 words per minute, 8 hours a day, it would take 30 years to type the human genome.
• Recent research reveals that humans have a minimum of 1 to 4% Neanderthal DNA.
• Humans and chimps share between 94 to 99% of their DNA.
Via: Nursing Programs
DNA Art
Off-the-wall conceptual DNA artistry is centered on the visualization of your DNA genetic code, using a special camera to make a high resolution photo of your unique genetic ‘fingerprint.’ Your DNA sample is collected CSI-style with swab kits and submitted to the centers.
Image DNA11.com
Numerous companies selling DNA art abound, offering a broad array from poster-sized to mini-desk-top portraits, DNA tattoos, and even fingerprint and lip art.
You can have your unique self-portrait created, or there’s fun for the entire family by combining up to 4 people’s DNA in a single canvas.
Image DNA11.com
It’s become so widely popular that there is even an official National DNA Art day celebrated on April 25th and a Facebook page to commemorate the successful completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 and the date of discovery of DNA’s double helix by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953.
Bizarre Genome of the Platypus
Photo Stefan Kraft
Straining credulity, scientists have recently determined the platypus’ entire genetic code, bearing genetic modules that are in turn mammalian, reptilian, and avian.
There are genes for egg laying, evidence of the animal’s reptilian roots, genes for making milk — which the platypus does in mammalian style despite not having nipples — and genes for making snake venom which they store in their legs. Not to mention that there are 5 times more sex-determining chromosomes than scientists know what to do with.
“It’s such a wacky organism” says Richard Wilson, director of the genome center at Washington University in St. Louis, who led the 2-year international study.
“Yet in its wackiness,” he says, “the platypus genome offers an unprecedented glimpse of how evolution made its first stabs at producing mammals.”
Photo TwoWings
“It tells the tale of how early mammals learned to nurse their young; how they matched snakes at their own venomous game; and how they struggled to build a system of fertilization and gestation that would eventually, through relatives that took a different tack, give rise to the first humans.
“As we learn more about things like platypuses, we also learn more about ourselves and where we came from and how we work.” Wilson said.
The animal’s complete genetic code — or genome — has 2.2 billion molecular ‘letters’ of DNA, about two-thirds as many as the human genome, and contains 18,500 genes, about the same as humans.
Gender-bending Rooster Starts Laying Eggs
Gianni the gender-bending cockerel. Photo Caters News Agency
Gianni started life as a red-blooded cockerel until the day that a fox raided his enclosure and killed all of the hens. Astonishingly, within days Gianni was laying eggs and attempting to hatch them in his new life — as a hen.
The sex-change chicken has baffled scientists at the UN’s Farm and Agriculture Organization, who plan to study Gianni’s DNA to figure out what made him change.
“It may be a primitive species survival gene.” an expert at the centre said. “With all the females gone he could only ensure the future of his line by becoming female.”
“This rooster-hen will be taken to the laboratories of Consdabi (Consortium for the experimentation and application of innovative biotechniques) for a series of behavioral and genetic tests.” said Professor Donato Matassino, who will be leading tests on Gianni.
“This will allow us to decipher this bizarre DNA mix-up that appears to have literally given what looks like 2 chickens in one.”
What is DNA
DNA is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses. The main role of DNA molecules is the long-term storage of information.
DNA is often compared to a set of blueprints, since it contains the instructions needed to construct other components of cells — such as proteins and RNA molecules.
Chemically, DNA consists of 2 long polymers of simple units called nucleotides, with backbones made of sugars and phosphate groups joined by ester bonds. These two strands run in opposite directions to each other and are therefore anti-parallel.
Attached to each sugar is one of 4 types of molecules called bases. The sequence of these 4 bases along the backbone encodes the information, which is read using the genetic code, so as to specify the sequence of the amino acids within proteins. The code is read by copying stretches of DNA into the related nucleic acid RNA, in a process called transcription.
DNA Art
Sources: Online MBA and Wikipedia
Tags:animals art arts bizarre DNA odd science unusual weird
A truly fascinating picture sequence. The most fascinating facts have to be the unwrapping of our DNA could reach the moon 6,000 times. Wow!
I particularly like the idea of a portrait with your fingerprints, however I would include all 3 types, whorl, arch and loop if you have one. It would make it more interesting.
I found the line “1 million bases of DNA sequence is equal to 1 megabyte of computer data”. That is amazing. I think DNA is one of the most interesting things about life. It makes up all living things. It can be so complex, but it is within all of us. I wish I paid more attention in chemistry class when I should of been learning more about molecules. I forgot about ester bonds. I am going to read this again to make sure I understand everything!