Artificial Triple-Helixed DNA: Will It Trigger Unintended Consequences?

Cyborgs
have been the sci-fi dream of a generation, merging man and machine in
amazing new combinations. Most of which seem to look like major action
stars. But a team at the University of Copenhagen think that’s amateur
hour. In fact they find the entirety of life of planet Earth to be
distinctly underwhelming, which is why they’re working on an upgrade -
triple-helixed DNA.

The
idea is to add a third Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) strand to the two
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) strands we started with. This ultimate
artificial additive can regulate the activity of the existing
genes,
blocking some or enhancing others, and that’s just for starters: the
cyber-strand is not limited to the four letter vocabulary of GATC,
meaning that extra characters could be added tothat very exclusive club.

When
a team at the Center for Biomolecular Recognition first attempted to
install a PNA strand into the “Major Groove” of regular DNA (yes, this
concept is so cool that even the scientific terms involved are
funky),
they were excited by a surprising and sophisticated effect. Because
unintended consequences of far greater complexity than anticipated are
exactly what you want to happen in a lab working on
life-capable chemicals.

Gene
Instead of a single PNA strand joining into the genetic party, two PNAs
would muscle out one of the existing strands and create a region of
two-thirds artificial triple-tagged helix. The displaced DNA would hang
loose outside this region, forming a “p-loop” which has since been
found to speed up replication of the structure. Also, the PNA-DNA bonds
are stronger than the originals.

To
recap: you have artificial cyber-genetics with capabilities beyond
those of weak organics, they’re stronger, and they can replicate
faster. It’s clear that this entire branch of science has escaped from
a movie somehow, a conclusion strengthened by the fact that the PNA has
a ridiculous weakness: water. Yes, just like Signs. No, we don’t think
it’s on purpose.

Inside
a squishy organic creature isn’t a great place for chemicals that don’t
like water, and any PNA in a living organism is rapidly excreted - but
not too rapidly for it to have effects. PNA has already been used to
cure muscular dystrophy in lab animals, meaning that even without a
chemical raincoat (which scientists are already working on) it’s a
powerful tool for controlling the very code of
creation.

Scientists currently researching in the field think waterproofing their work
is only a matter of time, meaning that we could be looking at
triple-stranded DNA in the future. We still have a long way to go
though - if expository movie computer-graphics can be believed, we need eight to recreate Leloo from the Fifth Element.

It’ll be a lot of work, but we’re sure you’ll agree it’s worth it.

Posted by Luke McKinney.

Triple-helical DNA