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  Topic: Modern devices for genetic engineering, Who knows about this field?< Next Oldest | Next Newest >  
normdoering



Posts: 287
Joined: July 2005

(Permalink) Posted: Oct. 19 2005,09:44   

I’m trying to write a science fiction story that involves someone doing complex genetic engineering in 2006 — an extraordinarily sophisticated bioweapon, a virus made from scratch that has never existed before, it targets brain cells (that’s as far as I’m willing to go with revealing the plot) — and I was wondering what kind of machines or devices exist now that could write out long sequences of DNA and stuff them in a virus shell.

What tools could be used to do such genetic engineering?

Could a detective reasonably track the sale of such devices to find the possible culprits?

I know that Eckard Wimmer, at the University of New York, created a polio virus from scratch back in 2002 and then someone later did it much faster. I believe they spliced together mail order DNA sequences.

This wouldn’t be mail order — this would be writing out DNA sequences that never existed before.

And no, it's not Frank Herbert’s “The White Plague” which is a bio-engineering custom plague to get rid of Ireland's women. This virus goes for the brain. It's more like  "Serpent and the Rainbow" without voodoo -- and that's all I want to say about the plot.

  
Pastor Bentonit



Posts: 16
Joined: Oct. 2005

(Permalink) Posted: Oct. 20 2005,05:22   

I take it your "bad guys" don´t want to order a traceable whole-virus sequence mail-order...sensible, even if not just any molecular sleuth would be able to easily get past customer-synthesis lab confidentiality. Then they have to own the (DNA or RNA) solid phase synthesis equipment themselves. Not uncommon in research labs, but possibly traceable. Then there´s the question of high-security lab facilities; a "human" virus intended to target the brain doesn´t sound very "safe" to work with...who would take the risk?

Note that synthesizing viral nucleic acids from scratch is subject to some size constraints (smaller virus genome=easier in principle, large enough=not possible today). Protein synthesis can be made using cell-free extracts. Typically, viral coat proteins self-assemble into viral particles and incorporate the viral nucleic acid. Many (but not all) viruses should be relatively easy (famous last words, I know!;)) to produce in a cell-free system.

Perhaps a more interesting question implied in your post is, how does one custom-design such a viral genome to i) target the brain and ii) produce a predictable effect? Here´s a review article you might want to read. It describes tissue tropism - cell/organ targeting - within the viral "family" containing polio as well as common cold virus. Polio virus is interesting here, as it targets cells within the central nervous system (not brain cells, but anyway).

Hope that helps.
Cheers,

/The Rev (no, not that one)

  
normdoering



Posts: 287
Joined: July 2005

(Permalink) Posted: Oct. 20 2005,12:07   

Quote (Pastor Bentonit @ Oct. 20 2005,10:22)
I take it your "bad guys" don´t want to order a traceable whole-virus sequence mail-order...sensible, even if not just any molecular sleuth would be able to easily get past customer-synthesis lab confidentiality.

"customer-synthesis lab confidentiality" ??

Thanks for reminding me.

That means you'd need some sort of search warrent or a computer hacker.

"...who would take the risk?"

Someone desperate using someone well paid.

"Note that synthesizing viral nucleic acids from scratch is subject to some size constraints (smaller virus genome=easier in principle, large enough=not possible today)."

What are the limits today? Can you express it in a library and book metaphor? If we think of the gene sequences as letters in a book spelling out:

AGC CTG GGC TAT GCA...etc.

Would a complex virus fit into a readable book? An encyclopedia? A library? Could one write a books worth of DNA?

"... more interesting question implied in your post is, how does one custom-design such a viral genome to i) target the brain and ii) produce a predictable effect?"

By studying virii that do attack the brain. By learning the language of viral life better than anyone knows it today.

I'm finding stuff like this:
http://www.dukemednews.org/av/medminute.php?id=2111

"A team of researchers at Duke University Medical Center recently crossed the virus that causes polio with the virus that causes the common cold. They found that this new genetically engineered virus can kill malignant brain tumor cells in lab mice within six to eight hours, without any damage to normal cells."

What I am assuming is that researchers also discover a lot of negative effects they don't report in the literature because they do have bio-weapon potential.

And remember, this is fiction: reality doesn't necessarily have to get in the way. It just has to seem real enough to scare fairly knowledgable readers.

"Hope that helps."

It did, thanks.

  
  2 replies since Oct. 19 2005,09:44 < Next Oldest | Next Newest >  

    


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