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Rewrite their own DNA is a little misleading, because the actual DNA codons don't normally change. But cells can affect gene expression throught multiple mecha
by tux3 4y ago
Rewrite their own DNA is a little misleading, because the actual DNA codons don't normally change.
But cells can affect gene expression throught multiple mechanisms, so that part of the DNA gets activated or de-activated.
You can use those mechanisms to react to the environment in various ways. For instance when you see chemical signals A and B, start making protein C. Or, when you see some signal, make the neuron more sensitive at the synapse (add receptors).
You can see it as storing state in a sort of memory, but that's pushing the computer analogy to its limits. Cells are pretty unlike chips :)
- epgui 4y agoEven though it is approximately correct that the codons don’t change, the codons can be chemically modified in a bunch of different ways (eg.: methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation…)
- melony 4y ago> the actual DNA codons don't normally change. Unless you are bacteria! I will see myself out.
- capitainenemo 4y agoPerhaps was thinking of https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/news-and-features/extensive-dna-breaking-needed-to-make-memories/ https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/news-and-features/ex... ? Although AFAIK this deliberate DNA breakage doesn't involve actual modification to the DNA...