9 Responses to “DNA: Packaging and Replication”

1. keiths Says:
   January 15th, 2007 at 3:48 am

   Awesome video, especially the replication part. I liked the mechanical noises they added to the animation — they really do improve your perception of what's going on.

Comment by keiths — January 15, 2007 @ 3:48 am

2. Jehu Says:
   January 15th, 2007 at 3:58 am

   Did I hear the phrase "amazing minature biochemical machines" Must be intelligent design propaganda.

   Seriously, those machines ARE amazing, and yet what we are seeing here is just a small portion of the minimum complexity required for life.

Comment by Jehu — January 15, 2007 @ 3:58 am

3. DaveScot1 Says:
   January 15th, 2007 at 4:28 am

   Nothing designed here folks. These machines are just a freak accident. Move along now.

Comment by DaveScot1 — January 15, 2007 @ 4:28 am

4. Mertens Says:
   January 15th, 2007 at 10:44 am

   Wow. I should've known the chromosome shape was based off a fractal spiral pattern. Ya know, studying science is like reading poetry.

Comment by Mertens — January 15, 2007 @ 10:44 am

5. Lurker Says:
   January 15th, 2007 at 12:16 pm

   Yep, nothing to see here. Ho hum. Don't let the illusion of design get you all excited for nothing.

   [/sarcasm]

Comment by Lurker — January 15, 2007 @ 12:16 pm

6. chunkdz Says:
   January 15th, 2007 at 1:51 pm

   I'd like to see this sped up to real time. It would just be ripping along at blinding speed, and should sound something like a miniature ferrari engine.

Comment by chunkdz — January 15, 2007 @ 1:51 pm

7. MikeGene Says:
   January 15th, 2007 at 2:06 pm

   Hi chunkdz:

   I'd like to see this sped up to real time. It would just be ripping along at blinding speed, and should sound something like a miniature ferrari engine.

   From here:

   If the DNA duplex were 1 m in diameter, then the following statements would roughly describe E. coli replication. The fork would move at approximately 600 km/hr (375 mph), and the replication machinery would be about the size of a FedEx delivery truck. Replicating the E. coli genome would be a 40 min, 400 km (250 mile) trip for two such machines, which would, on average make an error only once every 170 km (106 miles). The mechanical prowess of this complex is even more impressive given that it synthesizes two chains simultaneously as it moves. Although one strand is synthesized in the same direction as the fork is moving, the other chain (the lagging strand) is synthesized in a piecemeal fashion (as Okazaki fragments) and in the opposite direction of overall fork movement. As a result, about once a second one delivery person (i.e., polymerase active site) associated with the truck must take a detour, coming off and then rejoining its template DNA strand, to synthesize the 0.2 km (0.13 mile) fragments.

   …which reminds me of some essay.

Comment by MikeGene — January 15, 2007 @ 2:06 pm

8. Farshad Says:
   January 16th, 2007 at 8:19 am

   I see nothing exciting in this video except the highly advanced state of the art animation technique. If after watching this video somehow the illusions of design manage to poison your mind, go to a nearest RDF institute and ask for professional help. Meanwhile, who designed the designer?

Comment by Farshad — January 16, 2007 @ 8:19 am

9. Douglas Says:
   February 16th, 2007 at 4:44 am

   Why can't you people accept that it's all the end result of millions and billions of years of thoughtless selection acting on chance. Like the lottery.

Comment by Douglas — February 16, 2007 @ 4:44 am

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