Unlocking the Secrets of DNA Repair

[Tuckerfan]

Scientists study bacteria which can perfectly repair it’s DNA.

“We have completely fragmented their DNA. I mean we have completely destroyed it by bombarding it with [radiation]. And they can reassemble their entire chromosome and put it back into working order within several hours,” says Adrienne Kish, member of the research group studying Halobacterium at the University of Maryland.

Learning how all these repair mechanisms work could teach scientists a lot about how DNA repair occurs in humans, and perhaps point to ways to enhance people’s natural ability to cope with damage to their DNA–a possible boon to astronauts.

Looks to me like this could have payoffs in the areas of gene therapy, anti-aging research, cancer research, and possibly make vaccines obsolete.

[Snooooopy]

I remember doing experiments along these lines during a summer internship many years ago. I had to do the experiments completely in the dark because the DNA-repair enzymes of the bacteria I was working with were light-activated, and we were looking for interesting mutations.

[ftg]

Pick one:

[Kent Brockman]
I, for one, welcome our DNA repairing overlords.
[/Kent Brockman]

or

[Gnomes]

1. Repair DNA
2. ???
3. Profit!
   [/Gnomes]

[Finagle]

I’m still hoping they come up with an equivalent of Larry Niven’s boosterspice. I’m not enjoying the increasing creakiness of what I can no longer deny is middle-age. I don’t even want to think about the social ramifications though.