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jorg
What is the minimal amount of amino acids needed to make stable DNA?
and this sounds like a relay simple and dumb question but one very hard to find the answer to, Can life (cells) live with out DNA or is DNA a necessity for life?
anphyer
Interesting .,, great topic. ohmy.gif
Xenocidal Ender
DNA isn't necessary. (I think) There are living single-celled organisms without nuclei aren't there?
flyingbuttressman
QUOTE (Xenocidal Ender+Jul 13 2009, 03:53 PM)
DNA isn't necessary. (I think) There are living single-celled organisms without nuclei aren't there?

DNA doesn't have to live in the nucleus. Life as we know it requires DNA. All organisms have DNA, even viruses.
Xenocidal Ender
true, true...
MjolnirPants
DNA is not necessary, as far as we know, however something similar must substitute for it in any organism which doesn't have it. You can't have life without the programming to control it's behavior and growth.
PruneJuice
I do not claim background knowledge on this subject but I can make some asssumptions based on other similiarities in nature and can make some logical inferences.

DNA is composed of 4 different bases, A pairs with T and G pairs with C. So.. These 4 different bases comprise You and I and their definition is found within their alternation or how they are arranged within the LONG LONG strand of many bases.
Computers.... Like what you are typing are comprised of binary code, 1's and 0's. And depending on how the 1 and zeros are arranged, changes how things are expressed and defined within the computer.
Like I said, I have made this inference with only a little thought and little background knowledge but...
If there was No DNA; then, tiny primitive cells would be the only life possible because there would be NO Cell Memory and NO way to transcend the species. DNA Crosses over as well and this allows slight chances for someone to be different, and understanding why this is... You can watch the science fiction movie that recently came out "I am Legend" with Will Smith.
Because Dna can replicate and cross over, He was a lucky individual that got the lucky set of genes and was immune to the disease that wiped the rest of the planet out. Now... with the few survivors the gene (if dominant) will be expressed in most every human a 1000 years down the road if he found a mate.
This might be a little sidetracked.... but i just drank some coffee. *cheers*
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