A key riddle surrounding the origin of biological molecules like RNA and DNA is how they first came together billions of years ago from simple precursors but a study appearing in the Journal of Biological Chemistry says researchers in Italy have reconstructed one of the earliest evolutionary steps yet; generating long chains of RNA from individual subunits using nothing but warm water.
Many researchers believe that RNA was one of the first biological molecules present, before DNA and proteins, but there has been little success in recreating the formation on RNA from simple "prebiotic" molecules that likely were present on primordial earth billions of years ago.
Ernesto Di Mauro and colleagues found that ancient molecules called cyclic nucleotides can merge together in water and form polymers over 100 nucleotides long in water ranging from 40-90 °C –similar to water temperatures on ancient Earth.
Cyclic nucleotides like cyclic-AMP are very similar to the nucleotides that make up individual pieces of DNA or RNA (A, T, G and C), except that they form an extra chemical bond and assume a ring-shaped structure. That extra bond makes cyclic nucleotides more reactive, though, and thus they were able to join together into long chains at a decent rate (about 200 hours to reach 100 nucleotides long).
This finding is exciting as cyclic nucleotides themselves can be easily formed from simple chemicals like formamide, thus making them plausible prebiotic compounds present during primordial times. Thus, this study may be revealing how the first bits of genetic information were created.A key riddle surrounding the origin of biological molecules like RNA and DNA is how... more
It looks like Barnes and Noble’s stock of their Nook e-readers will not be replenished until January 4th. Did they do this purposefully to drum up interest, or did they really just run out?It looks like Barnes and Noble’s stock of their Nook e-readers will not be... more
Malcolm Gladwell and Steven Pinker duel over balancing scientific rigor with relatable narrative, while the future of personal genomics goes under the microscope.Malcolm Gladwell and Steven Pinker duel over balancing scientific rigor with relatable... more
Matrix 3D can use new or recycled paper and using colored paper gets users a color model. The printer laminates the paper and then cuts it with a blade as it builds solid structures one layer at a time. The finished model has a consistency similar to carved wood. Mcor notes that the operating costs of the Matrix 3D are fifty times less than other existing rapid prototype machines.
If there was ever any doubt about Windows 7’s success, today’s remarks from CEO Steve Ballmer will do away with it.If there was ever any doubt about Windows 7’s success, today’s remarks from CEO... more
The prototype of a solar-powered plane destined for a record round-the-world journey has made its first trip across a runway.
On Thursday, the plane covered at least 2km at speeds of up to five knots on the landing strip in Switzerland.
This week saw the Solar Impulse plane outside its hangar for the first time, with tests of its engines and computer.
As wide as a jumbo jet but weighing just 1,500 kg, it will be piloted by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard.
The plane's maiden flight is scheduled for February, and a final version will attempt to cross the Atlantic in 2012.
Thursday's "taxiing" test was carried out with a security trolley device under the cockpit to protect the craft in case the landing gears broke.
But Friday's test will be carried out without this device. The team will also try to double the speed to 10 knots.
A spokesperson for Solar Impulse said the first runway test went just as planned.
"It was just fantastic today. We are very excited about it," she told BBC News.
Today's activities are designed to give the test pilot a feel for how the plane moves on the ground.
If the tests are successful, the next step will be a short flight, or "flea hop" in about two weeks' time.
Solar Impulse chief executive Andre Borschberg told BBC News: "We'll take off at the beginning of the runway, fly a few metres above it - a little bit like the Wright brothers did in 1903 - and then land again, to see how it behaves at the beginning of the flight.
"If this is satisfactory, we will dismantle it and transport it [to Payerne air force base in western Switzerland] where we will do the real first flight of about two hours, in February."
But each step will be a careful one, Mr Borschberg stressed.
"This is truly a new design - an airplane the size of an Airbus and the weight of a mid-sized car - so we're not taking risks by not understanding something."
More Apple Tablet rumors have hit the rumor mill and this time, they seem fairly reasonable. Although the new projected release date is a little hard to swallow.More Apple Tablet rumors have hit the rumor mill and this time, they seem fairly... more
Google unveiled their new operating system, Chrome, in picture and video today for the world to see.Google unveiled their new operating system, Chrome, in picture and video today for the... more
Banks that are not eco-intelligent, or have not committed to social responsibility and/or environmental stewardship initiatives where impact can be measured, are subject to depository extraction. Bank depositors are empowered to allocate thier money where it is aligned with interests, values and priorities.
Cool slideshow about interactive environments that use a system of robots - ones that can sense and react to their surroundings.Cool slideshow about interactive environments that use a system of robots - ones that... more
Quantum processing units are fundamentally different in a number of ways. First, where a regular bit can be only 1 or 0, a quantum bit (or qubit) only assumes a value of 1 or 0 when it is observed. Additionally, Quantum computers aren’t bound by Boolean operators like ‘and, ‘or’ and ‘not’...Quantum processing units are fundamentally different in a number of ways. First, where... more
MSI on Wednesday announced it has begun shipping its new Wind Top AE2220 all-in-one desktop PC. The AE2220 takes its place as MSI’s flagship all-in-one and expands the company’s fast growing...MSI on Wednesday announced it has begun shipping its new Wind Top AE2220 all-in-one... more
Article in the NY Times about MyFit, "a service that helps high school students and their parents predict and improve their chances of getting into a college where they will enjoy life and succeed." http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/tune-in-start-up-drop-out/Article in the NY Times about MyFit, "a service that helps high school students and... more
This could be one way of tracking our food and its production, it's additives, whether it's GMO'ed or not ., what company involved.
The tiny labels are more than six millimeters thick but just three millimeters across--about the size of the @ symbol on a typical computer keyboard. They have several advantages over today's bar codes, Mohan says. They can provide far more information (such as the complete nutrition label from a food product), and a cell-phone camera can be used to read them from a distance.This could be one way of tracking our food and its production, it's additives, whether... more
London: Scientists are on track to develop bionic implants, which will correct both long and short-sightedness, allowing patients to throw away their glasses for good.The 'super lenses' could be used to replace the clouded natural lenses removed in cataract operations.London: Scientists are on track to develop bionic implants, which will correct both... more
"The National Security Agency has been working with Microsoft Corp. to help improve security measures for its new Windows 7 operating system, a senior NSA official said on Tuesday.
The confirmation of the NSA's role, which began during the development of the software, is a sign of the agency's deepening involvement with the private sector when it comes to building defenses against cyberattacks.
The partnership between the NSA and Microsoft is not new. In fact, the cooperation dates back to at least 2005, when the NSA and other government agencies worked with Microsoft on its Windows XP system and other programs.
The NSA, which is best known for its electronic eavesdropping operations, is charged with protecting the nation's national security computing infrastructure from online assaults.
As these systems become increasingly dependent on private-sector computing products, the NSA has reached out to a growing number of software companies."
Private eyes are watching you; they see your every move."The National Security Agency has been working with Microsoft Corp. to help improve... more
Nasa and Microsoft have launched an interactive website that allows users to explore the planet Mars.
The Be a Martian website allows members of the public to help scientists perform research tasks such as improving maps of the red planet.
"We're at a point in history where everyone can be an explorer," Doug McCuistion, director of Nasa's Mars Exploration Program, said.
"With so much data coming back from Mars missions that are accessible by all, exploring Mars has become a shared human endeavour.
"People worldwide can expand the specialised efforts of a few hundred Mars mission team members and make authentic contributions of their own," he added.
Users can, for example, count craters on Mars, a task Nasa said had posed a challenge in the past because of the vast numbers involved.
"The collaboration of thousands of participants could help scientists produce far better maps," Nasa and Microsoft said in a joint statement.
"There's so much data coming back from Mars. Having a wider crowd look at the data, classify it and help understand its meaning is very important," said Michelle Viotti, director of Mars Public Outreach at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
"We're also accomplishing something important for Nasa."Nasa and Microsoft have launched an interactive website that allows users to explore... more
