Buzz
While most people associate deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) simply with being the genetic framework of an organism—the molecular guide that steers its growth and function—its role goes far beyond biology. This intricate molecule and its signature double helix form indeed carry genetic instructions, but DNA has also found captivating applications outside the world of biology. It is being used to trace the ancestry of forgotten apple varieties, push data storage beyond the limits of silicon microchips and magnetic disks, and even contribute to the generation and expansion of clean energy. This list explores these and other extraordinary DNA applications.
10. Rediscovering Lost Apple Varieties
DNA has become a surprising tool for apple enthusiasts. As reported by the BBC, in the United Kingdom, DNA samples are being extracted from ancient apple trees to unearth rare and historical apple varieties. Since many of the apples we consume today are descendants of grafted trees from the past, these older varieties may no longer be accessible.
The Marcher Apple Network is a collaborative group where members share findings related to their DNA investigations. Their efforts have occasionally led to the discovery of long-forgotten apple trees and their genetic origins. For example, a recent breakthrough identified the 'Unknown Founder 8' as a Lemon Roy variety, known for its tart, stewed apples. Sometimes, entire orchards reveal multiple apple varieties that are direct descendants of trees that have long since disappeared.
9. Data Storage
As reported by the BBC, 'If stored as DNA, every film ever made could be stored in a space smaller than a sugar cube.' Kasra Tabatabaei, a researcher at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, would certainly agree with this statement. Nature's own storage system, DNA, outshines any technology-based storage method. According to her, it can accommodate virtually unlimited amounts of data—whether images, videos, music, or any other type of information.
DNA strands consist of four chemicals—adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T)—which are capable of 'arranging and rearranging themselves along [the molecule’s] double helix [structure] into combinations that scientists can decode, or sequence, to make meaning.' By introducing seven chemically modified nucleotides into the sequence, researchers can exponentially enhance DNA's storage potential.
One of the advantages of DNA is that it serves as a 'secure, sustainable data lock box' capable of enduring the planet’s harshest environments for tens of thousands of years. Additionally, it offers near-limitless renewability, in stark contrast to today’s storage systems, mostly based on silicon microchips, which eventually end up in landfills within a few decades. Just as CDs replaced floppy disks, DNA storage will eventually take over from silicon microchips and magnetic storage drives.
8. Energy Production
Among DNA’s remarkable applications is its role in energy production. As Suliman Khan and his colleagues emphasize in an article in the International Journal of Genomics, microorganisms like cyanobacteria and Geobacter sulfurreducens hold significant potential for renewable energy. Cyanobacteria are capable of generating hydrogen, a clean energy source, using specific enzymes that facilitate the process. Techniques like genetic and metabolic engineering, as well as optimizing growth conditions, have significantly boosted hydrogen production in these microorganisms. By altering the genetics of cyanobacteria, researchers have enabled them to convert CO2 into fuel, presenting an opportunity to lessen the environmental impact of carbon-based energy sources.
Meanwhile, Geobacter sulfurreducens has gained attention for its potential in bioelectronics and renewable energy, thanks to its ability to form conductive biofilms. Genetic modifications that removed the PilZ genes, responsible for encoding proteins, resulted in biofilms with enhanced conductivity. These modified biofilms, when grown on electrodes, were six times more conductive than their natural counterparts, leading to reduced energy losses in microbial fuel cells.
These advancements suggest that microorganisms could play a crucial role in the future of clean energy technologies, offering efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuels.
7. Archaeological Research
DNA has provided archaeologists with valuable insights into the rituals of the people of Chichén Itza, a significant Mayan city from the Late and Terminal Classic periods (AD 600–1000), located on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Genomic data from 64 pre-adult individuals found in a mass burial near the Sacred Cenote in the settlement's ceremonial center revealed unexpected findings. All the deceased were male twins, with two pairs being monozygotic, and they were all closely related.
Rodrigo Barquera and his team concluded that the 64 boys were victims of human sacrifice, executed over a span of 500 years. Their underground burial site symbolized an entrance to the underworld, and the twins may have been a reference to 'rituals involving [their culture’s] Hero Twins,' Hunapu and Xbalanquem. These legendary figures 'avenge their father and uncle,' who were sacrificed by the gods, by undergoing repeated cycles of death and resurrection to outsmart the underworld gods.
6. Evidence for Evolution
DNA provides substantial evidence supporting the theory of evolution in several ways. Genome sequences from various species highlight their shared ancestry (comparative genomics). Molecular similarities between species (molecular homology), as well as nonfunctional DNA sections that resemble functional genes (pseudogenes), further validate this theory. Additionally, fossils showing traits common to both ancestral and descendant groups offer evidence of evolutionary transitions (transitional fossils). The concept of a molecular clock, which helps date the occurrence of biomolecular mutations, also supports the divergence of life forms over time. Vestigial structures—cells, tissues, and organs that have lost their original function—are another important piece of this puzzle. Lastly, similarities among embryos in different species provide further evidence of evolutionary links (comparative embryology).
The ability of scientists to pinpoint genetic similarities across species, track genetic changes over time, and use DNA comparisons to map evolutionary relationships serves as powerful evidence for the theory of evolution. This process of verification strengthens the foundation of biological and life sciences.
5. Genealogical Research
Genealogical research has gained significant importance for those interested in constructing their family trees and exploring their ancestry. A variety of biological samples can be used as sources of DNA, such as sweat, skin, blood, tissue, hair, dandruff, mucus, semen, saliva, and even rectal or vaginal cells. The aim of these tests often helps in identifying the appropriate material to be used.
The conclusions drawn from genealogical research involving DNA, typically utilizing a saliva sample, should be approached cautiously, as Kelly Brown warns in her article 'Know Your DNA.' Like any DNA test, whether it's for forensics, paternity, medical purposes, or genealogy, results should not always be taken at face value, since 'many DNA testing services offer educated, scientific guesses about origins based on the data in their database.'
4. Tailored Diets
DNA has unlocked new possibilities for dieting, including personalized nutrition and exercise plans. Dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick discusses this in her article 'Genetic analysis is contributing to a growing area of nutritional medicine that provides dietary prescriptions—personalized diet plans based on nutrigenomics,' which examines the interaction between the genome and diet, and its effects on health.
Dr. Lu Qi, an adjunct professor of nutrition, suggests that this personalized approach could enhance dietary guidance by identifying individuals’ food sensitivities and disease vulnerabilities, as preliminary research indicates. One outcome of the Human Genome Project, nutrigenomics, has opened doors to understanding the bioactive compounds in foods—substances that impact living tissues—and their influence on genes. However, no definitive conclusion has been made about the effectiveness of nutrigenomic-based diets, and more research is required, as findings remain mixed.
3. Airborne Disease Detection
Laura Foster’s headline for her BBC News article effectively encapsulates the key message: “Testing DNA in the air could help lower food prices.” Researchers at the Earlham Institute in Norwich employ advanced sampling methods that identify harmful bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms threatening plants, animals, and humans alike. These methods are not only faster but also more precise compared to traditional techniques. By quickly shedding DNA into their environments, organisms provide scientists with crucial clues to determine which species inhabit those areas or when they were present, enabling researchers to track them. This innovative approach allows farmers to target specific pathogens endemic to their fields.
Farmers, merchants, and restaurant owners could cut down on excess chemical treatments and pass on the savings to consumers, resulting in more affordable food prices for buyers, customers, and diners alike.
2. Veterinary Health
Pet owners can now test their dogs’ breed compositions, either from home or through a veterinarian-administered DNA test. The test not only reveals the breeds contributing to the dog's physical traits but also highlights any genetic predispositions to certain health conditions. This insight can help identify diseases to which a dog may be more susceptible due to their genetic makeup.
It's important to note, however, that the test is not an infallible predictor of whether a dog will develop a particular disease. A “positive test result on a genetic test does not necessarily mean that [a] dog is going to develop a particular disease.” Rather, a positive result typically indicates that the dog may require a visit to the veterinarian for further evaluation.
1. Rodent Control
One potential solution to more effective rodent control is genetic manipulation of rats to produce only male offspring, eventually leading to their extinction. Researchers suggest that altering the rodents' ribonucleic acid (RNA) could achieve this outcome. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are various methods to “modify, suppress, and detect organisms at the molecular level.”
The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats/Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9) gene-editing technology offers researchers innovative tools that even Victor Frankenstein could not have envisioned. It enables them “to correct errors in the genome and turn on or off genes in cells and organisms quickly, cheaply and with relative ease.” This technology has a wide range of applications, including correcting defective DNA to treat genetic disorders (at least in mice and human embryos), as well as combating infectious, malignant, and other diseases. If the U.S. Department of Agriculture succeeds, rats could be eradicated within a generation or two.
