You might not cogitate a lone E. coli bacterium has much in the way of memory . But now , researchers have whoop their DNA so that they can salt away memories of their environment — work much like an old tape recorder .
New Scientist reportsthat chunks o DNA codification in E. Coli called retrons carry the inherited code for enzyme that generate new strands of deoxyribonucleic acid that are inserted into the genome . Now , they ’ve been engineered so that they produce DNA that correspond to spying of sure ambient condition in the surrounding environment — the comportment of a sure chemical substance , say , or bright light . That novel chunk of DNA chunk is then effectively a computer memory of what ’s happened around them . The outcome are put out inScience .
What ’s interesting , though , is that the perception and transcription is only partially effective . New Scientist explain :
As time go by , more of the cells will answer to the remark and record the retention . By calculate at a certain spot how many of the electric cell conduct the memory , it ’s potential to work out either the input ’s military capability , or the length of photo … It ’s a signal that pile up over time rather than an all - or - nothing switch … In other language , its parallel rather than digital .
Which may sound like a footfall back , but the researchers take it could be used to corking force in the human body , detection and recording events and exposure that cause damage to our cells , in the long - run providing the inside write up of health inside our eubstance . [ ScienceviaNew Scientist ]
Image bySanofi Pasteur
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