Oops

[Minimalist]

Looks as if a new variable has been put into the DNA mix.

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2 ... c-and-what

urns out life has more essential building blocks to play with than previously thought: researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered a new nucleotide in the mammalian DNA code. Remember good ol' adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine? Well, the alphabet of our DNA sequence is about to receive a new letter. Meet 5-hydroxymethylcytosine; we aren't sure what it does or where it's located, but we know it's important -- really important.

In the announcement, Nathaniel Heintz, director of the molecular biology lab that conducted the research, was exuberant about the significance of the finding: "This is another mechanism for regulation of gene expression and nuclear structure that no one has had any insight into. I think this finding will electrify the field of epigenetics."

Now what?

[Rokcet Scientist]

Looks as if a new variable has been put into the DNA mix.

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2 ... c-and-what

Now what?

Well, I'd say: back to the drawing board, and redo ALL DNA haplotype analyses. This time incorporating 5 nucleotides, instead of 4. Should be interesting.

And in 5, 10, or 20 years we may have to do that again when the 6th and 7th nucleotides are discovered...