Does DNA Have 'Telepathic' Properties? -Experts Say "Yes"

DNA has been found to have a bizarre ability to assemble itself, even at a distance, when according to known science it shouldn't be able to. Explanation: None, at least not yet.

Scientists are reporting evidence that contrary to our current beliefs about what is possible, intact double-stranded DNA has the “amazing” ability to recognize similarities in other DNA strands from a distance. Somehow they are able to identify one another, and the tiny bits of genetic material tend to congregate with similar DNA. The recognition of similar sequences in DNA’s chemical subunits, occurs in a way unrecognized by science. There is no known reason why the DNA is able to combine the way it does, and from a current theoretical standpoint this feat should be chemically impossible.

Even so, the research published in ACS’ Journal of Physical Chemistry B, shows very clearly that homology recognition between sequences of several hundred nucleotides occurs without physical contact or presence of proteins. Double helixes of DNA can recognize matching molecules from a distance and then gather together, all seemingly without help from any other molecules or chemical signals.

In the study, scientists observed the behavior of fluorescently tagged DNA strands placed in water that contained no proteins or other material that could interfere with the experiment. Strands with identical nucleotide sequences were about twice as likely to gather together as DNA strands with different sequences. No one knows how individual DNA strands could possibly be communicating in this way, yet somehow they do. The “telepathic” effect is a source of wonder and amazement for scientists.

“Amazingly, the forces responsible for the sequence recognition can reach across more than one nanometer of water separating the surfaces of the nearest neighbor DNA,” said the authors Geoff S. Baldwin, Sergey Leikin, John M. Seddon, and Alexei A. Kornyshev and colleagues.

This recognition effect may help increase the accuracy and efficiency of the homologous recombination of genes, which is a process responsible for DNA repair, evolution, and genetic diversity. The new findings may also shed light on ways to avoid recombination errors, which are factors in cancer, aging, and other health issues.

Posted by Rebecca Sato.

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Source: ACS’ Journal of Physical Chemistry B

Comments

[JonC]

Strange occurrence we have here! It all sounded very odd and still does, yet when you think about the distance being only 1 nanometer of water, it doesn't sound so far fetched. DNA is about 2.3 nm wide, so the distances here aren't VERY far.. but it's still an interesting mystery :)

[Carel Steenekamp]

I have read an article along similar lines several months ago. Is it a hoax? I mean, if the width of DNA is 2.3 nm, at 1nm apart the molecules are ALREADY clumped. Where does the mysterious attraction come in?

Just curious.

[LOLrus]

Maybe the table was on a slant

[damagemouse]

it's supersymmetry or 'spooky effect at a distance' - maybe if such unknown interactions take place with regular old particles maybe they do with dna too

[Mike]

Looks like I'll be using this for my Dissertation when the time comes! Fascinating stuff, I'll have to do some digging and hopefully be able to manage it in a lab!

[Diego]

What's the exact citation? I've been searching for a while in the J. Phys. Chem. B and found nothing.

[Betsy]

Some interesting implications is with RNA, specifically transfer RNA and Messenger RNA and how those two come together to form proteins.

[Zarkov]

Everything is governed by electricity...even gravity

Biological molecules are electrically charged...static charge surrounded by insulation, so they have an electrical signature

Normal matter is electric, charge is free to flow..... thus the difference

There is no magic, if you could go to that molecular level, it would all make sense

Unfortunately for us, LIFE does not make sense.

Lucky for LIFE it does make sense.

Humans are just going to have to understand that they have no idea, and they must learn from LIFE, LIFE does not care.

Unfortunately for earthlings, there is not enough time left for anything other than to say..Goodbye