........

May 6, 2004 9:26 AM

WalkingDNA Scientists have created a microscopic walking robot using only the building blocks of life. The robot’s DNA legs move along a DNA footpath, taking a nanostroll in a bath of a liquid called a "nondenaturing buffer", which stops the DNA from falling apart.
posted by mcgraw (10 comments total)

Also, an unrelated story of the Mother With Two Women's DNA

Tests eventually showed Jane was a [tetragametic ] chimera - her mother had been pregnant with non-identical twins who had fused together in the womb to make one person.
posted by mcgraw at 9:29 AM on May 6, 2004

wait, is this the real world, or are you still making your statement?
posted by badstone at 9:39 AM on May 6, 2004

My statements are as lost to me as they are to everyone else. Did I say something?
posted by mcgraw at 9:55 AM on May 6, 2004

Holy microcrap!
posted by troutfishing at 10:05 AM on May 6, 2004

this is cool. thanks for the link.
posted by lazaruslong at 11:38 AM on May 6, 2004

Evil scientists everywhere are capering and cackling with glee!
posted by jennyb at 11:59 AM on May 6, 2004

Apparently, evil scientists are a dying breed.
posted by mcgraw at 12:15 PM on May 6, 2004

a liquid called a "nondenaturing buffer", which stops the DNA from falling apart


Yeah, well, I should probably tell you that this is like saying "a liquid called 'water,' which makes things wet." Yes, the definition of "nondenaturing" is "keeps things from denaturing."
posted by rxrfrx at 6:31 PM on May 6, 2004

Nah, you probably shouldn't tell me, rxrfrx.

You should tell New Scientist's editor.
posted by mcgraw at 7:46 PM on May 6, 2004

There are other liquids besides water that keeps DNA from denaturing...
posted by jmd82 at 1:24 PM on May 7, 2004