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Scientists discover double meaning in genetic code
University of Washington ^ | 12/12/2013 | University of Washington

Posted on 12/13/2013 8:59:54 AM PST by aimhigh

Scientists have discovered a second code hiding within DNA. This second code contains information that changes how scientists read the instructions contained in DNA and interpret mutations to make sense of health and disease.

UW scientists were stunned to discover that genomes use the genetic code to write two separate languages. One describes how proteins are made, and the other instructs the cell on how genes are controlled. One language is written on top of the other, which is why the second language remained hidden for so long.

The genetic code uses a 64-letter alphabet called codons. The UW team discovered that some codons, which they called duons, can have two meanings, one related to protein sequence, and one related to gene control.

(Excerpt) Read more at washington.edu ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dna; genetics
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To: Flick Lives
The genetic code uses a 64-letter alphabet called codons.

God apparently went with 64-bit addressability. Good future-proofing.


Well, considering how insanely dense DNA is, from an information standpoint, you'd need 64-bit addressing just to get started. I'd actually be surprised if 64-bits were enough.

81 posted on 12/13/2013 11:13:45 AM PST by zeugma (Is it evil of me to teach my bird to say "here kitty, kitty"?)
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To: circlecity

“Just like you can pour a box of Alpha-bits cereal on the floor for infinity and you will never get the Gettysburg Address spelled out.”

That’s not true, unless the box you are using doesn’t contain enough of the appropriate letters.


82 posted on 12/13/2013 11:15:59 AM PST by Fuzz
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To: Dutch Boy

So does this put another nail in the coffin to the notion that apes and humans have “nearly” matching DNA?

One would hope, especially when you take into account findings that what scientists have been referring to for years as "junk" DNA, isn't nearly as junky as they'd assumed.

 

83 posted on 12/13/2013 11:25:34 AM PST by zeugma (Is it evil of me to teach my bird to say "here kitty, kitty"?)
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To: Fuzz
"That’s not true, unless the box you are using doesn’t contain enough of the appropriate letters."

It most certainly is true and is a fundamental axiom of information theory. (and an inevitable corollary to the 2nd law of thermodynamics for that matter).

If we had a telescope that could look at the features of a planet a billion light years away and we saw an exact replica of Mount Rushmore nobody would conclude that this was created by random erosion, weather, wind, and other natural events by chance. They would conclude that it had been purposely created. But this random Mount Rushmore scenario is much more probable than inert elements magically combining themselves into DNA carrying the astronomical amount of detailed information necessary to create even the simplestt form of life (ie. a single cell bacteria).

84 posted on 12/13/2013 11:26:05 AM PST by circlecity
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To: Moonman62

It’s obvious by now that evolution is God’s chosen way to create.


MAn evolves by being born again..
It’s like the caterpillar butterfly thing..


85 posted on 12/13/2013 11:26:16 AM PST by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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To: DManA
I view the theory of evolution as one possible explanation of how HE did it.

That explanation doesn't work for me, no evolution theory I know of can be made to fit the timing and order of events that is recorded in the first chapter of Genesis. Every version of the "1 day = 1 million years" theory and other theories such as the "gap theory" that I have read has serious conflicts with God's own biblical account of how and when He created everything that now exists or ever has existed.

Evolutionists use fossilized plants and animals to date rock and soil layers, and they also use those same rock and soil layers to date the same fossilized plants and animals. IIRC that's called circular reasoning.

86 posted on 12/13/2013 11:40:08 AM PST by epow
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To: Dr. Thorne
"If you have an infinite number of monkeys with an infinite number of typewriters they will make an infinite mess."

No, IF you truly had an infinite number of monkeys with infinite time you would eventually get every possible text in existence. Your text:mess ratio would be on the order of 1:∞ but any text you want would still exist somewhere in the mess. That is the main concept behind infinity and the monkey theory is valid with those assumptions.

Of course we don't know two things that may never be proven:

-Is the Universe infinite?

-Was the time taken to create the universe infinite?

IF we do prove these things, random creation of life in our reality is a reasonable theory. Of course it still doesn't explain the mechanics of the universe, how matter/energy began and the concepts of consciousness, time, etc.


IMO:

-The established mechanics of the Universe (time, matter, energy, gravity, etc) are where the higher power can be "seen" within the reality we perceive.

-Everything we perceive, including all life, is the seemingly "random" result of these mechanics.

-Science will someday conclude everything as "random". And they are correct when looking at everything from our perspective.

-Our limited perspective will never allow us to understand the higher power that created the universe or why it exists. After a lifetime of going to the ends of the earth to find out, I'm convinced that the "answer" is not something that can be expressed here by anyone. It has been SEEN by many people throughout history and summarized as "God's Word" but they can never truly describe it all to another person with the tools that exist here.

87 posted on 12/13/2013 11:47:33 AM PST by varyouga
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To: epow

We now know that time is relative so we need to rethink our old interpretations.


88 posted on 12/13/2013 11:53:12 AM PST by DManA
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To: aimhigh

Virtually everything we have that enriches our standard of living and quality of life were developed by scientists and engineers. Sad to see so many on this thread hate them. Finding a presumably rare case of a gene with 2 functions doesnt invalidate a century of DNA and genetic tech, it expands our knowlege of how thing work. And learning how things work results in better medicine and patient care and and longer life expectancy. We are not the enemy.


89 posted on 12/13/2013 11:57:48 AM PST by Brooklyn Attitude (Things are only going to get worse.)
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To: circlecity

Infinity would be enough time for any and every possible arrangement of the contents of the box, including floating away or bursting into flames.

If the universe is infinite, as your example, then there is/was or shall be (supposing linear time) a Mt. Rushmore like structure somewhere created by wind erosion, lightning or disembodied heads of the vanquished creating images in their own likeness to worship.

It’s infinity.


90 posted on 12/13/2013 12:29:11 PM PST by Fuzz
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To: circlecity

Then why are almost all of them extinct?


91 posted on 12/13/2013 12:32:39 PM PST by Fuzz
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To: Fuzz
"Infinity would be enough time for any and every possible arrangement of the contents of the box,"

Nope. Each time the box is emptied the probablilities against it are so great as to be impossible. Thus, for infinity a box would emptied and each time it would a random assortment of letters. Over and over.

92 posted on 12/13/2013 12:34:08 PM PST by circlecity
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To: DManA

Oppenheimer


93 posted on 12/13/2013 12:34:25 PM PST by Fuzz
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To: Fuzz

All of what extinct?


94 posted on 12/13/2013 12:34:56 PM PST by circlecity
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To: Fuzz
"It’s infinity."

extended time does not increase probability. That misconception is known in statistical and philosophical areas as "The gambler's fallacy".

95 posted on 12/13/2013 12:40:13 PM PST by circlecity
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To: circlecity

You said:

“God created all his kinds of creatures with all the genetic information necessary to adapt to a changing environment.”

Then I asked, then why are almost all of them extinct? Them referring to God’s creatures with necessary adaptation mechanisms to survive.


96 posted on 12/13/2013 12:40:20 PM PST by Fuzz
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To: circlecity

It’s not time, it’s infinity.


97 posted on 12/13/2013 12:40:44 PM PST by Fuzz
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To: Fuzz

Which “kinds” are extinct? The “kinds” referred to in Genesis are not synonymous with “species”.


98 posted on 12/13/2013 12:41:46 PM PST by circlecity
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To: Fuzz

infinity is merely endless time. Massively improbable events will continue not to happen forever.


99 posted on 12/13/2013 12:42:51 PM PST by circlecity
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To: circlecity

Massively improbable < Infinity


100 posted on 12/13/2013 12:45:57 PM PST by Fuzz
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