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SOME WASPS EXPLOIT VIRUSES, (which are another type of DNA parasite that needs a host's molecular machinery to reproduce), to subdue the wasp's hosts. A type of reverse parasitism which shows how enormously dynamic the genome is. " " http://lnkd.in/Pkgqxa View in LinkedIn

PARASITISM CAN BE BILATERAL, as transposable elements (TE), while probably originally DNA parasites, may account for the infinite capacity of the immune system. Nature is opportunistic both ways. "TEs may have been co-opted by the vertebrate immune system as a means of producing antibody diversity: The V(D)J recombination system operates by a mechanism similar to that of some TEs."" " http://lnkd.in/6FT7kj View in LinkedIn

SILO-BUSTER FOR BIOLOGY. The nexus of cross-discipline talk. The sweet spot for surprising innovation. "Systems biology and synthetic biology are both based on linking several discrete disciplines such as biology, computing, physics, and chemistry. This corresponds to what the European commission calls “the New Renaissance” where a holistic scientific approach is adopted that is built on a crossing over of disciplines that once were considered separate and discrete."" " http://biotek2012.forskningsradet.no/file.axd?file=2009%2F11%2F200908140-10.2+NT-fakultetet+p%C3%A5+NTNU.pd View in LinkedIn

THE SOUP OF GENETIC ELEMENTS: Jumping genes, coding DNA (genes), and viruses are genetic elements that are shuffled like cards. "Irrespective of the strict definition of selfish DNA, there is no sharp, definitive boundary between the concepts of selfish DNA and genetically functional DNA. Often it also is difficult to establish whether a unit of noncoding DNA is functionally important or not, and if important, in what way. What is more, it is not always easy to distinguish between ...selfish DNA and ...viruses."" " http://lnkd.in/2yUP2c View in LinkedIn

A MILESTONE HUMANS WILL NEVER FORGET. This is worth repeating. Biology's Man on the Moon moment. "In May 2010, Craig Venter's group announced they had been able to assemble a complete genome of millions of base pairs, insert it into a cell, and cause that cell to start replicating." I feel" "privileged to be alive at this historic juncture. For some reason, this is not a discussion point in every household today, and for many has flown under the radar. Biology has come of age in a New Renaissance. . " " http://lnkd.in/TC5QS9 View in LinkedIn

JUMPING GENES AS DNA PARASITES? Transposable elements (TE ) "are found in many major branches of life. They may have originated in the last universal common ancestor, or arisen independently multiple times, or perhaps arisen once and then spread to other kingdoms by horizontal gene transfer. While some TEs may confer benefits on their hosts, most are regarded as selfish DNA parasites. In this way, they are similar to viruses... leading to speculation that they share a common ancestor."" " http://lnkd.in/6FT7kj View in LinkedIn

CRAIG VENTER dreams of making synthetic life forms to do useful work, on distant planets, and to chew up earthly CO2and make food, fuel, plastics, and much more. Think big!" " http://lnkd.in/iBHmP2 View in LinkedIn

THE SELFISH GENE or ancient jumping gene transposons (TE) from other species was likely carried by viruses or parasites. "The staggering evolutionary success of TEs is attributed mostly to their ability to out-replicate the host genomes in which they reside, as opposed to any selective advantage that they might provide to their hosts. Indeed, TEs can spread within and among genomes, even when there is a selective cost to their hosts". " " http://lnkd.in/d8w3aj View in LinkedIn

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY APPS AND GAMES. "Recently, two projects are in progress. The first, is a mashup app of all synthetic biology related softwares, to find everything you need to do your synthetic biology computer work. The other is a synthetic biology related game modeled after FoldIt. Teams can play online together to solve real world problems with help of synthetic biology."" " http://lnkd.in/frBre3 View in LinkedIn

JUMPING GENES, "Junk DNA", transposable elements (TE), or the selfish genes. "Transposable elements (TEs) can be seen as selfish genetic entities, the spread of which can be deleterious to the host cell due to the genomic instability that is induced by a massive increase in copy number. As a result of the conflicting interests of TEs and the host genome, the cell has developed various processes to control retrotransposon activity."" " http://lnkd.in/FekDZi View in LinkedIn