Researchers with the University of Tokyo may have directly witnessed the quantum reaction that results from the exposure of biological tissue to a magnetic field, a mechanism hypothesized to be behind the magneto-receptive sense that can guide birds on their long migratory routes. Although it has been long established that certain speciesread more
While the sheer amount of information that can be stored in genetic code is well known — a single gram of DNA is estimated to be able to hold 700 terabytes of information — it turns out that there is yet another layer of information that is mechanically encoded into our genetic material. A new study has found this extra layer of encoded information in our DNA, in that the way the molecule itself is folded acts as yet another layer of information that can be used by the host organism’s cells. As it is, each cell holds strands of DNA that are approximately six feet long, so each strand needs to be folded extremely tightly to fit into the cell’s microscopic nucleus.
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