junk DNA or buffer DNA

John K Clark (johnkc@well.com)
Wed, 18 Mar 1998 08:48:49 -0800 (PST)


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

Using DNA to shield things from X rays would be like using tissue paper as
protection from an anti tank gun. If you want to decrease the rate of
mutation then increase the rate of DNA repair, that's what bacteria do. The
bacterium Micrococcus radiodurans, like all bacteria, has much less junk DNA
than a human or any eukaryotic animal, yet it will thrive even in an
environment of 6.5 million roentgens of Gamma rays, 10,000 times less would
kill a human in minutes.

John K Clark johnkc@well.com

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.i

iQCzAgUBNQ/6qX03wfSpid95AQGSTATwzgr/Sl7X895kgst/eAXKlxV126Pr3/dT
fOdF92s81eYuMJ1znWS8MjlVMaXTdeQq6tp66VXFmf8M4c7jM5H/QjjPpEbuSyBo
KQHJw4vZZvpWs+zIxI9VqyA6z9O/f6/XKquIYOBng0PRTkDn3rrQmQOKSqIhlsJv
dYt6+xLt28z3iKcBzeO9leGdgicrItAE6nrn3639jMSR08gfpdU=
=2Yec
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----