[Next-Generation Sequencing Book]
  • [Photo] J.W. Bizzaro • April 29, 2004
    An article by Michael Kanellos:

    ``Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science say they have devised a `biological computer' that could detect and help cure diseases such as cancer.

    ``Described in a paper in the journal Nature, the team's biological computer is a designer version of DNA that can identify mutating cells.

    ``When inserted into a biological environment, the designer molecule begins to sense ribonucleic acid (RNA), a similar molecule crucial to the replilcation of DNA, the chemical building block of genes. In particular, it is attracted to abnormal forms of RNA that are associated with lung or other types of cancer. The attraction occurs, because the sequence of the enzymes on the DNA strand corresponds to complementary sequences found on RNA from malignant cells.

    ``Once detected, the designer molecule can then release chemicals to inhibit growth of malignant cells or even kill them.''

    Full story at C|Net:
    http://news.com.com/2100-1040_3-5201794.html

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