A Nobel Prize winning biologist has ignited controversy after publishing details of an experiment in which a fragment of DNA appeared to ‘teleport’ or imprint itself between test tubes.
According to a team headed by Luc Montagnier, previously known for his work on HIV and AIDS, two test tubes, one of which contained a tiny piece of bacterial DNA, the other pure water, were surrounded by a weak electromagnetic field of 7Hz.
Eighteen hours later, after DNA amplification using a polymerase chain reaction, as if by magic the DNA was detectable in the test tube containing pure water.
Oddly, the original DNA sample had to be diluted many times over for the experiment to work, which might explain why the phenomenon has not been detected before, assuming that this is what has happened.
The phenomenon might be very loosely described as 'teleportation' except that the bases project or imprint themselves across space rather than simply moving from one place to another.
To be on the safe side, Montagnier then compared the results with controls in which the time limit was lowered, no electromagnetic field was present or was present but at lower frequencies, and in which both tubes contained pure water. On every one of these, he drew a blank.
The possible quantum effect – the apparent imprinting of the DNA on the water – is not in itself the most contentious element of the experiment, so much as the relatively long timescales over which it appears to manifest itself. Quantum phenomena are assumed to show their faces in imperceptible fractions of a second and not seconds minutes and hours, and usually at very low temperatures approaching absolute zero.
Revealing a process through which biology might display the underlying ‘quantumness’ of nature at room temperature would be startling.
Montagnier’s experiment will have to be repeated by others to have any hope of being taken seriously. So far, some scientists have been publically incredulous.
"It is hard to understand how the information can be stored within water over a timescale longer than picoseconds," said the Ruhr University in Bochum’s Klaus Gerwert, quoted by New Scientist magazine, which broke the story (requires registration).
I said it here many years ago; the "iron clad" statis we have bestowed upon DNA will soon fall completly apart.
The "teleport" in the article conjures up visions of that "liquidmetal man" in The Terminator, where a severed part of his body would seek out the whole.
The new word for this year: Quantum Phenomena "Waking up alone, Tanya realized that her one night stand was less of a sexual encounter and more of a quantum phenomena."
[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 01-21-2011).]
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12:50 PM
Doug85GT Member
Posts: 10016 From: Sacramento CA USA Registered: May 2003
The problem I have with this is that pure water only have hyrogen and oxygen in it. It does not have carbon, nitrogen, nor phosphorus that are needed to make a DNA strand.
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01:05 PM
2.5 Member
Posts: 43235 From: Southern MN Registered: May 2007
There is quantum tunnelling but as pointed out in the article, that happens instanteniously in fractions of a second. Also, I only know of it happening with individual particles, not with molecules and certainly not with anything as big as a strand of DNA.
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01:24 PM
2.5 Member
Posts: 43235 From: Southern MN Registered: May 2007
"The rapid rate at which bacteria reproduce makes them extremely adaptable. There are methods of reproduction, including binary fission and budding, which are both simple and fast. Under unfavorable circumstances, the bacteria can form very resistant spores which have thickened coverings. Inside the thickened coverings reside living material that is dormant and remains in a distorted form until conditions get better.
The process of binary fission involves bacterium copying its DNA to make a precise duplication. It then partitions itself in two. The bacterium has actually cloned itself. This method happens so quickly that just one microorganism can make a billion just like itself in approximately 10 hours, if the conditions are ideal. When asexual reproduction occurs, this involves one bacterium parent. Its offspring are exactly the same as the parent. Sexual reproduction requires the joining of two parent cells. They exchange genetic materials and the offspring will be a mixture of the two parent cells.
The process of budding is also quick and easy. A bud forms out of the side of the microorganism and then the mother makes a nucleus specifically for the bud via mitosis. Mitosis is a process during which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in the nucleus of the cell. The nucleus is then given to the bud and it breaks off. Voila! Another microorganism is created.
Budding and binary fission are, additionally, forms of asexual reproduction because a clone is created. The bacterium does not need to swap DNA when asexual reproduction occurs; however, it is hard for bacteria to evolve. Consequently, conjugation occurs and enables the DNA to be exchanged between two different bacteria. Conjugation means that bacteria come together and exchange genetic material. Once this occurs, each cell will proceed through the process of binary fission to produce an offspring with new genetic make-up.
Two bacteria are involved when conjugation occurs. One bacterium extends a long tubule or pilus to exchange DNA to the other bacterium and they then swap some of their DNA. The pilus is the removed and the bacteria go on their merry way. Each has picked up traits from the other and these traits make it easier for them to adapt to diverse environments." http://www.catalogs.com/inf...teria-reproduce.html
Originally posted by ryan.hess: According to a team headed by Luc Montagnier, previously known for his work on HIV and AIDS, two test tubes, one of which contained a tiny piece of bacterial DNA, the other pure water, were surrounded by a weak electromagnetic field of 7Hz.
Eighteen hours later, after DNA amplification using a polymerase chain reaction, as if by magic the DNA was detectable in the test tube containing pure water.
Interesting stuff. Ever hear claims about "ultra-diluting" a substance in water, and then using that water to cure things...placebo effect, or something more? (probably placebo, but who knows???)
Bacteria "sex" is called transportation, right?
It's amazing watching things "work" on the cellular level. Always was amazed at ribozomes and mitochondria...
quote
One bacterium extends a long tubule or pilus to exchange DNA to the other bacterium and they then swap some of their DNA. The pilus is the removed and the bacteria go on their merry way. Each has picked up traits from the other and these traits make it easier for them to adapt to diverse environments."
This is why you need to take the full course of your antibiotics - if you stop taking it once you first start feeling 'better', the bacteria which were beat up by the AB but were able to survive the reproduce and passtheir code onto others, and they become more resistant. They can even start to make you sick again, and this time, you have bad guys inside which can tolerate the AB... if you kept taking the AB, they might not have survived...
[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 01-21-2011).]
This test needs to be done again, under much more controlled settings. It's like using a wrech on an oily engine, and then being surprised how oil could possibly be found on the pristine engine you just used the wrench on...
Google "pcr contamination"
[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 01-21-2011).]
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01:52 PM
jaskispyder Member
Posts: 21510 From: Northern MI Registered: Jun 2002
To be on the safe side, Montagnier then compared the results with controls in which the time limit was lowered, no electromagnetic field was present or was present but at lower frequencies, and in which both tubes contained pure water. On every one of these, he drew a blank.
To REALLY "be on the safe side", he should also have REPEATED THE ORIGINAL EXPERIMENT.
[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 01-21-2011).]
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific methodology, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status. Pseudoscience is often characterized by the use of vague, exaggerated or unprovable claims, an over-reliance on confirmation rather than rigorous attempts at refutation, a lack of openness to evaluation by other experts, and a general absence of systematic processes to rationally develop theories.
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04:03 PM
avengador1 Member
Posts: 35468 From: Orlando, Florida Registered: Oct 2001
Interesting stuff. Ever hear claims about "ultra-diluting" a substance in water, and then using that water to cure things...placebo effect, or something more? (probably placebo, but who knows???)
Oh yeah, I wrote a reply which included my recent experience w/ that stuff (contains Duck livers*) But then I didn't hit "reply"...
*SORTA
A few weeks ago, on a saturday I was walking outside, and SUDDENLY, I felt the flu come upon me - achy joints, a feeling of "uh-oh, I'm gonna DIE!!!!!". I was right outside a Duane Reade, and looked for something which might shorten the duration of my suffering. I found THAT stuff, and said "what the heck".. I didn't look into what it was, or what was in it, I just took it, and: - the Body Aches lasted less then 4 hours -The fever which arrived a few hours later was controlled (by tylenol) -Feeling "run down" was cured by me lying in bed and barely moving the entire next day
Did it work? Not REALLY. The body aches lasted only a little while, and weren't as bad as the last time I had the flu (a decade ago)
Then again, Once I felt the flu hit, I drank water, and laid down. Took tylenol once the fever arrived...which also treats muscle pain
What's in that stuff? Duck Liver, diluted to like .0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001% duck liver per BOX. In essence, there IS no Duck Liver in it. (and how do Duck Livers cure flu symptoms, anyway?
Those crazy french with their OUTRAGEOUS accents!
That stuff is TOTAL BS,(in my book) but some of their other stuff seems to work ok - one of the stress ones, but I think that's because it makes ya feel like you do when you are on a certain other medication, so you assume the stuff that goes along with it...
I only bought it because I was gonna die, and at that moment, I would have sucked on duck tonail soup if someone handed me a bowl...
[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 01-21-2011).]
