Self-teleporting DNA

Discussion in 'Chemistry' started by Magical Realist, Sep 21, 2014.

  1. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    "A Nobel prize winning scientist who shared the 2008 prize for medicine for his role in establishing the link between HIV and AIDS has stirred up a good deal of both interest and skepticism with his latest experimental results, which more or less show that DNA can teleport itself to distant cells via electromagnetic signals. If his results prove correct, they would shake up the foundations upon which modern chemistry rests. But plenty of Montagnier's peers are far from convinced.

    The full details of Montagnier's experiments are not yet known, as his paper has not yet been accepted for publication. But he and his research partners have made a summary of his findings available. Essentially, they took two test tubes – one containing a fragment of DNA about 100 bases long, another containing pure water – and isolated them in a chamber that muted the earth's natural electromagnetic field to keep it from muddying the results. The test tubes were housed within a copper coil emanating a weak electromagnetic field.

    Several hours later, the contents of both test tubes were put through polymerase chain reactions to identify any remnants of DNA – a process that subjected the contents to enzymes that would make copies of any DNA fragments they found. According to Montagnier, the DNA was recovered from both tubes even though the second should have only contained water.

    Montagnier and his team say this suggests DNA emits its own electromagnetic signals that imprint the DNA's structure on other molecules (like water). Ostensibly this means DNA can project itself from one cell to the next, where copies could be made – something like quantum teleportation of genetic material, a notion that is spooky on multiple levels.

    Naturally, there is plenty of skepticism to go around regarding these findings, ranging from outright dismissal to measured doubt. Indeed, it's a pretty radical notion: DNA replicating itself through "ghost imprints" rather than the usual cellular processes. More details will emerge when the paper is published in a peer-reviewed journal, as it is likely to be. The findings will then have to be repeated in multiple independent studies to be considered valid, something that will take some time. In the meantime, expect these findings to draw equal parts intrigue and skeptical scrutiny."---http://www.popsci.com/science/artic...ally-teleport-itself-one-researcher-thinks-so
     
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  3. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    He's published at least two papers so far.
    And the chairman of the editorial board of the publication that did so happens to be... Montagnier himself.
    P Z Myers managed to find one or two faults.
     
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  5. GeoffP Caput gerat lupinum Valued Senior Member

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  7. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    Very much agree with other respondents. I notice this report is from January 2011, i.e. 3 1/2 years ago.

    Since then………? Silence, apparently.


    So it never was accepted for publication anywhere else. If it had been found to be good science I am pretty sure we'd have heard more about it. It has gone in the bin, like a lot of bad work.

    Which just goes to show that a Nobel prize does not confer or imply infallibility.
     
  8. Read-Only Valued Senior Member

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    3 1/2 years ago? Yep, it's a dead deal then.

    Reminds me of Dr. Linus Paulding. He got the Nobel one year in Chemistry. Some time later, he jumped out of his basic field and went prodding around in biochemistry. After some dilly/dallying he announced to the world that massive doses of vitamin C would prevent people from catching a common cold. But it was later proven to have no such effect.
     
  9. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    Turns out the original work was done even earlier, in 2009…...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luc_Montagnier

    As you can see, the whole storm in a teacup has been comprehensively written up in Wiki.

    It seems to fall squarely into the category of stale news.
     
  10. Captain Kremmen All aboard, me Hearties! Valued Senior Member

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    Pure water contains only hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
    DNA contains those as well, plus Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus.
    You cannot make new atoms by "imprinting" water.

    If it was possible, then you should imprint Gold, not DNA.
     

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