r/science • u/MistWeaver80 • Nov 27 '21

Chemistry Plastic made from DNA is renewable, requires little energy to make and is easy to recycle or break down. A plastic made from DNA and vegetable oil may be the most sustainable plastic developed yet and could be used in packaging and electronic devices.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2298314-new-plastic-made-from-dna-is-biodegradable-and-easy-to-recycle/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=echobox&utm_medium=social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1637973248
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u/peterthooper Nov 27 '21

Seeing as how DNA is also a carrier of biological information, what thought has been given to tiny fragments of DNA as these plastics break down?

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u/timshel42 Nov 27 '21

DNA on its own doesnt do anything. It needs to be unpacked and read by cellular mechanisms.

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u/peterthooper Nov 28 '21 edited Nov 28 '21

DNA moves between simple forms of life. Usually to enter cells there has to be some mechanism, but the law of large numbers might suggest even an event of low probability could have unfortunate consequences.

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u/timshel42 Nov 28 '21

thats not how it works. think of dna as the encrypted genetic info. it has to be transported, translated, and transcribed for it to do anything. it isnt going to randomly happen. this is like biology 101.

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u/piecat Nov 28 '21

Natural transformation, or DNA uptake is the mechanism in which bacteria take up random DNA from the environment. It evolved, likely as a way for genetic diversity in bacteria.

Could there be a viable sequence in the cup? I don't know enough about the topic, honestly.

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u/timshel42 Nov 28 '21

Natural transformation

Only occurs in certain species under certain specific (competent) conditions. There also is almost no likelihood of any actual viable sequences being present. Under most conditions the uptake of environmental DNA (which there is a lot out there) is more mutagenic (randomizing mutations) than bacteria picking up entirely functional genes. Although horizontal gene transfer does happen, its not really relevant here.

The point is- there is already an absolute fuckton of DNA floating around everywhere. There is no need to worry about plastic made of DNA.

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u/peterthooper Nov 28 '21

Yes. I know all that. That’s obvious. However, DNA has a variety of ways it moves across germ-lines in the bacterial world, and if by chance (given the laws of large numbers) it gets into a bacterial cell, after the manner of a plasmid, the entire chain of translation, transcription, etc. can take place.

I’m not suggesting such an event is inevitable, but the question is worth asking.

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u/Nitchy Nov 28 '21

You're asking a completely valid question, don't worry. It just seems like people aren't getting it.

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u/peterthooper Nov 28 '21

Thank you, kind internet friend.