Neurons Constantly Alter Their DNA (2015)
hopkinsmedicine.org
Neurons Constantly Alter Their DNA (2015)
1–10 of 33 posts
Re: Neurons Constantly Alter Their DNA (2015)
#2The use of "rewrite" is a bit misleading- what's being altered in this mechanism is an epigenetic tag that sits "on top" of one of the standard DNA bases; that an individual's epigenetics are altered as they go through life is well known. But since the underlying cytosine is (as far as we know) irrevocably bound to this tag, it has to be replaced by a different (but identical) cytosine. Its more like going over your handwriting to hide an errant punctuation mark than "rewriting."
Re: Neurons Constantly Alter Their DNA (2015)
#3The use of "rewrite" is a bit misleading- what's being altered in this mechanism is an epigenetic tag that sits "on top" of one of the standard DNA bases; that an individual's epigenetics are altered as they go through life is well known. But since the underlying cytosine is (as far as we know) irrevocably bound to this tag, it has to be replaced by a different (but identical) cytosine. Its more like going over your…
Ok, we'll s/rewrite/alter/ the title above.
Re: Neurons Constantly Alter Their DNA (2015)
#4The use of "rewrite" is a bit misleading- what's being altered in this mechanism is an epigenetic tag that sits "on top" of one of the standard DNA bases; that an individual's epigenetics are altered as they go through life is well known. But since the underlying cytosine is (as far as we know) irrevocably bound to this tag, it has to be replaced by a different (but identical) cytosine. Its more like going over your…
Ok, we'll s/rewrite/alter/ the title above.
also 2015
Re: Neurons Constantly Alter Their DNA (2015)
#5The use of "rewrite" is a bit misleading- what's being altered in this mechanism is an epigenetic tag that sits "on top" of one of the standard DNA bases; that an individual's epigenetics are altered as they go through life is well known. But since the underlying cytosine is (as far as we know) irrevocably bound to this tag, it has to be replaced by a different (but identical) cytosine. Its more like going over your…
Actually, it's been a thing for a while that we know the brain has somatic mutations which cause the DNA to differ from cell to cell. While the epigenetic tags are also affected, it goes beyond attaching tags. The brain literally rewrites its own DNA.
https://www.genomeweb.com/sequencing-technology/single-neuro...
Re: Neurons Constantly Alter Their DNA (2015)
#6Is the word 'toggle' being used correctly in that article? Do they mean 'modulate' maybe? (If they're talking about a continuum, rather than a "one or the other" polarity.)
Re: Neurons Constantly Alter Their DNA (2015)
#7The use of "rewrite" is a bit misleading- what's being altered in this mechanism is an epigenetic tag that sits "on top" of one of the standard DNA bases; that an individual's epigenetics are altered as they go through life is well known. But since the underlying cytosine is (as far as we know) irrevocably bound to this tag, it has to be replaced by a different (but identical) cytosine. Its more like going over your…
To me, it sounds more like surgically replacing a fragment of your skin to get rid of a tattoo, then after some time replacing it back again to reapply the tattoo. So not exactly a walk in the park. The article seems to explicitly state that it's quite a fragile and risky operation, and that's actually why it so surprised the scientists:
"[T]he process involves making a cut into DNA, it leaves the DNA somewhat vulnerable to mutations, so most cells use the process sparingly [... Studies suggest that in] mammals' brains [it happens] more than in any other area of the body — and Song’s group wanted to know why all this risky business was going on in such a vulnerable tissue as the brain."
Re: Neurons Constantly Alter Their DNA (2015)
#8The use of "rewrite" is a bit misleading- what's being altered in this mechanism is an epigenetic tag that sits "on top" of one of the standard DNA bases; that an individual's epigenetics are altered as they go through life is well known. But since the underlying cytosine is (as far as we know) irrevocably bound to this tag, it has to be replaced by a different (but identical) cytosine. Its more like going over your…
To me, it sounds more like surgically replacing a fragment of your skin to get rid of a tattoo, then after some time replacing it back again to reapply the tattoo. So not exactly a walk in the park. The article seems to explicitly state that it's quite a fragile and risky operation, and that's actually why it so surprised the scientists: "[T]he process involves making a cut into DNA, it leaves the DNA somewhat vulner…
Some form of memory storage. Maybe rewiring the firing mechanism based on some input.
Re: Neurons Constantly Alter Their DNA (2015)
#9[deleted]
Re: Neurons Constantly Alter Their DNA (2015)
#10I knew it - our brains are written in Lisp!