-Caveat Lector- 'Machine' Crafted Out of DNA By RICK CALLAHAN Associated Press Writer Scientists have made a moving part out of a few strands of DNA, a step toward building incredibly tiny "machines" that could someday perform intricate jobs like building computer circuits and clearing clogged blood vessels in the brain. The hinge-like part, which bends on cue, is just four-ten-thousandths of the width of a human hair. The new work isn't the first time scientists have turned chemical compounds into moving parts. But previous examples have been hampered by their floppy nature. The DNA device, however, is particularly rigid and executes motions 10 times bigger, lead researcher Nadrian C. Seeman said. The device was made by joining two double-stranded DNA spirals with a bridge of DNA. When it's exposed to a particular chemical solution, part of the structure bends. The findings were reported in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature by Seeman and colleagues at New York University. The team hopes to eventually build other moving parts using DNA, including "arms" and "fingers" that someday could be mounted on a micro-robot. The work is the latest twist in the fledgling field of nanotechnology, or technology at an atomic scale. "This is a very beautiful demonstration of construction at that scale of a device that's actually functioning," said Daniel T. Colbert of Rice University's Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology. However, Colbert said scientists are still decades away from creating any useful machines in nanotechnology. "We're kind of in the children's playtime toddler era of doing this. We've been thrown some blocks and Legos and Tinker Toys," he said. "We're just kind of picking them up and trying to assemble things out of them that can perform something useful." K. Eric Drexler of the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing in Los Altos, Calif., agreed that Seeman's device is too cumbersome to be useful. But he said further development may lead to a practical device. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
