Nanotechnology Now

• About Us
  
  • Advertising
  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Comments
  • Friends
  • Contact
• Nanotechnology
• News
  
  • Current News
  • Press Releases
  • Submit Press
  • Press kit
  • Interviews
• Columns
• Products
  
  • Our Products
  • Books
  • Featured Books
• Directories
  
  • Companies/Academic
  • Events
  • Glossary
  • Best Of
• Career Center
• Nano-Social Network
• Nano Consulting
• My Account

Home > News > Looking at life through DNA

February 24th, 2008

Looking at life through DNA

Abstract:
Anita Goel is enthralled by motor and not the kind that resides under the lid of your car. But the molecular motors that stick along strands of DNA, reading and replicating genetic information. They are the motors of life itself. Goel, a 29 year-old researcher in the physics department at Harvard, hopes to learn how these nanoscopic machines work. In particular, she is interested in how the environment can affect the motor's operation.

"I find it intriguing," says Goel, "that conditions within cells can affect the flow of information encoded in DNA." It all sounds complex but for Goel this is what she always wanted to do and get. While visiting the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico, Goel began thinking more deeply about theories that might adequately describe the interaction of DNA molecular motors with their environment.

To Goel, the common understanding of DNA is a bit oversimplified. "We currently think of DNA as the sole source of information necessary for building a living organism. But if the environment affects the way the DNA is read and replicated, then perhaps the information embedded within the environment is also important for life.

Source:
indiapost.com

Bookmark:

Related News Press

News and information

Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013

Study Shows How the Nanog Protein Promotes Growth of Head and Neck Cancer June 18th, 2013

New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013

Production of Polyaniline Biosensors Modified with Conductive Polymer Composites June 18th, 2013

Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals

3-D printing could lead to tiny medical implants, electronics, robots, more June 18th, 2013

Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013

New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013

An Innovative material for the Green Earth: Simple and inexpensive process to make a material for CO2 adsorption June 17th, 2013

Military

Unzipped nanotubes unlock potential for batteries: Rice University lab combines graphene nanoribbons with tin oxide for improved anodes June 13th, 2013

Polymer structures serve as 'nanoreactors' for nanocrystals with uniform sizes, shapes: Tiny chemistry June 11th, 2013

2-D electronics take a step forward: Rice, Oak Ridge labs make semiconducting films for atom-thick circuits June 10th, 2013

Noble way to low-cost fuel cells, halogenated graphene may replace expensive platinum June 6th, 2013

Nanobiotechnology

Iranian Scientists Produce Dynamometer for Nanoparticles, Biocells June 15th, 2013

Shape of nanoparticles points the way toward more targeted drugs: A collaboration of scientists at Sanford-Burnham and the University of California, Santa Barbara, finds that rod-shaped particles, rather than spherical particles, appear more effective at adhering to cells June 10th, 2013

Catching individual molecules in a million with optical antennas inside nano-boxes June 10th, 2013

Whispering light hears liquids talk: University of Illinois researchers build first-ever bridge between optomechanics and microfluidics June 7th, 2013