DNA scientists in Saudi Arabia have reported a breakthrough after seeing for the first time the moment our genetic code begins to copy itself.
Looking through microscopes, a team at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology saw how our DNA “unwinds” from its spiral shape. That is a necessary step before it can be copied.
The twisted strands of the DNA double helix are “melted” by chemicals called helicases, according to the scientists. They describe them as “machines or, because of their size, nanomachines” acting inside our bodies.
Once pulled apart, other chemicals take over and get to work copying the strands of DNA. Almost every cell in the human body contains the same genetic code, which dictates things such as the colour of our eyes and hair.
Nobel Prize winners James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double-helix structure of DNA in the 1950s – but scientists did not know, until now, how exactly it is unwound, said Alfredo De Biasio, one of the King Abdullah University scientists.
Researchers called it a milestone in the field. They said their new findings published in the journal Nature amount to the detailed description yet of the “very first steps” of DNA replication.
With their cryo-electron microscopes, scientists in Prof De Biasio's laboratory, and that of bioscientist Samir Hamdan, watched 15 atomic states unfold that reveal how the strands are split apart. They found that two of the “machines” work together to melt the DNA in one spot each.
Nanotechnology hope
The whole thing works so efficiently that it could be a model for designing miniature technology, it is hoped. That makes the study “more than an attempt to answer the most fundamental scientific questions about life”, Prof De Biasio said.
“From a design perspective, helicases exemplify energy-efficient mechanical systems,” he said. Miniature machines “could harness similar energy-efficient mechanisms to perform complex, force-driven tasks”.
He said the “machines” that prise apart our DNA are powered by a molecule called ATP. This functions “like the spring in a mouse trap, snapping the helicase forward and pulling the DNA strands apart”, he said.
Saudi Arabia launched a $200 million fund to invest in high-tech companies two years ago as part of a new strategy for King Abdullah University. The aim is to improve the chances of “turning research into economically beneficial innovations”.
The university's previous work includes a coral reef restoration on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast described as the world's largest, and a nanosatellite launched in 2023 to monitor the kingdom's natural resources.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Uefa Champions League last 16, first leg
Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight, Wednesday, BeIN Sports
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Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
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Euro 2020 qualifier
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Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
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1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
General Classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
MATCH INFO
Group B
Bayern Munich v Tottenham, midnight (Thursday)
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How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
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Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
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Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
