Will Artificial DNA Be The Future Of Computers And 'green IT'?

A team of researchers at the University of Toyama in Japan, led by Masahiko Inouye, claim to have created the world's first stable artificial DNA molecules, made from synthesized nucleosides that resemble their natural counterparts.

DNA is made up of four basic building blocks, or bases, which code proteins used in cell functioning and development. While other researchers have developed DNA molecules with a few select artificial parts, the Japanese team put together four completely new, artificial bases inside the framework of a DNA molecule, creating unusually stable, double-stranded structures resembling natural DNA. According to the scientists, the artificial DNA acts like the real thing, and even forms right-handed duplexes with complimentary artificial strands. They hope to one day use their discovery to create a new biological information storage system that functions outside of the cell. Artificial DNA could be advantageously used instead of natural DNA due to its stability against naturally occurring enzymes and its structural diversity.