Flipons: The Discovery of Z-DNA and Soft-Wired Genomes by Alan Herbert ISBN 9781003463535, 9781032732961, 9781032731087, 9781040025000, 1003463533, 1032732962, 1032731087, 1040025005 instant download

Flipons: The Discovery of Z-DNA and Soft-Wired Genomes by Alan Herbert ISBN 9781003463535, 9781032732961, 9781032731087, 9781040025000, 1003463533, 1032732962, 1032731087, 1040025005 instant download

Alan Herbert has played a leading part in discovering the biological roles for a high-energy form of DNA twisted to the left rather than to the right.
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Both Z-DNA and the Z-RNA-sensing proteins are critical for protecting hosts against both viruses and cancers. The proteins also play critical roles in the programmed cell death of aging cells. Other types of flipon exist and alter the readout of transcripts from the genome, encoding genetic information by their shape rather than by their sequence.
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Many of these flipons are within repeat elements that were previously considered to be just genomic junk. Instead, these genetic elements increase the adaptability of cells by flipping DNA conformation. By acting as digital switches, the different flipon types can alter cellular responses without any change to their sequence or any damage to DNA.
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These highly dynamic structures enable the rapid evolution of multicellular organisms. The junk DNA in repeats also encodes peptide patches that enable the assembly of cellular machines. The intransitive logic involved enhances the chance of an individual surviving a constantly changing environment.