4 ms·

I think you're misunderstanding things a bit. In the context of DNA as a data storage medium, it no longer functions as a "building block of life". It'd be like

by ryusage 14y ago

I think you're misunderstanding things a bit. In the context of DNA as a data storage medium, it no longer functions as a "building block of life". It'd be like taking some binary image data and overwriting it with binary audio data. You can still technically interpret it as image data, but it's just going to be a random jumbled mess, and will probably error out immediately.

acomar 14y ago
But you can also embed interesting information into an image without distorting the image itself (much). Similarly, the DNA of most organisms have a ton of garbage space that could be used to encode information without hurting the organism. Not saying it's practical or desirable, just that it is possible.
- scarmig 14y ago
  So, we could end up with a (drum roll please) stenographic stegosaurus? Edited to add: Ruined my own punchline. Steganographic stegosaurus, damnit!
  - mhb 14y ago
    It's even better - it would be a steganographic stegosaurus.
    - sadga 14y ago
      Since we are using DNA to record information of life experience, it's in fact a steganographic stegosaurus stenographer.
- dontblink 14y ago
  Leads me to wonder if the current "garbage" sequences in our own DNA could be encoded information that we were meant to decode - and by that I mean that that information may not just be entirely genetic code.
  - xanadohnt 14y ago
    That's some seriously astute extrapolation! Nice idea, friend.
  - will_work4tears 14y ago
    It's the memories of all of our ancestors. I must not fear, fear is the mind killer...
  - UnFleshedOne 14y ago
    They are not garbage sequences iirc, they control gene expression. DNA is a string that is coiled tight several times over itself (can't explain better than that, see the video below :)). So the garbage sequence is like padding that pushes genes in and out of areas that can be read. Changing amount or composition(?) of the garbage can turn a gene on or off just because it becomes inaccessible to RNA replication mechanism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5JnYZImJA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5JnYZImJA

by ryusage 14y ago

acomar 14y ago

But you can also embed interesting information into an image without distorting the image itself (much). Similarly, the DNA of most organisms have a ton of garbage space that could be used to encode information without hurting the organism. Not saying it's practical or desirable, just that it is possible.

scarmig 14y ago
So, we could end up with a (drum roll please) stenographic stegosaurus? Edited to add: Ruined my own punchline. Steganographic stegosaurus, damnit!
- mhb 14y ago
  It's even better - it would be a steganographic stegosaurus.
  - sadga 14y ago
    Since we are using DNA to record information of life experience, it's in fact a steganographic stegosaurus stenographer.
dontblink 14y ago
Leads me to wonder if the current "garbage" sequences in our own DNA could be encoded information that we were meant to decode - and by that I mean that that information may not just be entirely genetic code.
- xanadohnt 14y ago
  That's some seriously astute extrapolation! Nice idea, friend.
- will_work4tears 14y ago
  It's the memories of all of our ancestors. I must not fear, fear is the mind killer...
- UnFleshedOne 14y ago
  They are not garbage sequences iirc, they control gene expression. DNA is a string that is coiled tight several times over itself (can't explain better than that, see the video below :)). So the garbage sequence is like padding that pushes genes in and out of areas that can be read. Changing amount or composition(?) of the garbage can turn a gene on or off just because it becomes inaccessible to RNA replication mechanism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5JnYZImJA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5JnYZImJA