Bizarre DNA of eight letters may belong to aliens

Traditional DNA consists of four base pairs a, C, G, and T. but the newly created genetic system is Packed with eight — twice as many as is commonly found in self-replicating molecules. The new system is called “Hetemaj”, and what is most interesting — it may be similar to the building blocks of extraterrestrial life, that is, aliens. A new study published recently in the journal Science, describes hatkoti, which means “eight letters” in Japanese.

In addition to the four base pairs, this genetic system has four building blocks, which significantly increases the density of information compared to conventional DNA. The scientists who presented the work say that the new system can be reliable enough to support life — that is, to support the processes necessary for Darwinian self-reproduction.

Alien DNA of eight letters

Just clarify that, hatkoti is not an independent self-sustaining body. Rather, it is a model of the alternative genetic structure needed to sustain self-sustaining life. On Earth, only RNA and DNA perform this function, but this does not mean that other options in space can not exist. In fact, astrobiologists are very interested in this study, because it shows another possible mechanism from which could arise, evolve and acquire the complexities of life.

The authors of the study do not claim that hachimoji exists throughout the Universe, but believe that it is possible to take and “imagine parallel processes,” says Andrew Ellington, co-author of the new research and synthetic biologist from the University of Texas, Austin. “Carefully analyzing the role of shape, size and structure in DNA hatkoti, in this work we expand our understanding of the types of molecules that could store information about extraterrestrial life in alien worlds”.

In conventional RNA and DNA, a combination of four base pairs allows genetic information to be stored and transmitted. These four building blocks of DNA, or nucleotides consist of adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine, or simply A, C, G and T. In RNA T is replaced by uracil (U). The base bases encode amino acids, the fundamental building blocks of proteins.

Previous studies have allowed to create synthetic DNA with four alternative letters in total and a system with two additional base pairs (six in total), but in the last study, scientists have increased this number to eight.

The four new letters, P, B, Z, and S, are roughly similar in structure and functionality to conventional DNA, according to a new study; P and b are purine — like in function, and Z and S are pyrimidine-like. In tests, the genetic system showed the ability to store and transmit information, essentially simulating the molecular behavior of conventional four-letter DNA. What’s important, chatmaze also satisfies the requirements of schrödinger, which determines the Darwinian system of molecular evolution (the Schrodinger cat which is neither alive nor dead). Schrödinger described four requirements of evolution: information storage, transmission, structural integrity, and distinguishable physical form or structure.

“DNA chatmaze can do everything DNA to sustain life. It is predictable forms a pair, and the rules that dictate its stability. DNA hatkoti can be copied to create RNA, hatkoti, can synthesize proteins directly. RNA chatmaze may have a selective phenotype (physical structure) and in this experiment and the fluorescent green glow.”

Laurie geise, acting Director of planetary science at NASA, praised the study: “discovering life is becoming an increasingly important goal of NASA’s planetary science missions, and this new work will help develop effective tools and experiments that will expand the range of our search.”

“This study is important because DNA has always been considered unique. For example, DNA is the only material with which we can design sequences with predictable stability,” says Floyd Romesberg, a geneticist at the SCRIPPS Institute, as well as the author of a study with six synthetic pairs. “And as Steve Benner has shown, his new four letters also satisfy all aspects of this predictable stability. Although there were hints that other things besides the four natural letters of DNA could have such a property, this work for the first time really demonstrates this.”

Romesberg also says that an important application of the eight-letter alphabet is the control of molecular associations, that is, the ability to program the configuration of nucleotides. The eight-letter alphabet, he said, is inherently more specific than the four-letter alphabet.

“However, it would be useless if the stability of the eight-letter alphabet is not predictable or programmable,” Romesberg says. “Having shown this, Steve opened a new application that will appear in his lab soon.”

The results of the work can lead not only to astrobiological consequences, but also leave a trace in the real world — for example, to improve diagnostic equipment, environmental monitoring (such as the detection of dangerous viruses), lead to the emergence of alternative storage of information, proteins with added amino acids and new innovative drugs.

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