Forum:From digital DNA to chromosomes

Imagine that somehow we would have a digital copy of a dinosaur's genome (DNA). How can we turn this digital code into actual chromosomes?

In this thread we will discuss different ways to do this.

Artificial chromosomes
My first thought was to create new artificial chromosomes:
 * synthesize new DNA
 * Creating chromosomes: add histones and other proteins to the naked DNA

Insertion in existing genomes
I recently read the article How to Bring Back the Woolly Mammoth (Infographic) at LiveScience. They added an (for me) unexpected step to their resurrecting process.

This are the steps:
 * Fully sequence Mammoth genome.
 * Figure out what parts in the Mammoth genome actually differ with an Elephant.
 * Replace those parts of the Elephant genome with Mammoth DNA.

I always imagined that once you know the extinct species genome, you have synthesize the entire genome. However, we still don't have the technology to synthesize a DNA strand of 186 million base pairs (chromosome 4). Furthermore, no-one has ever turned such a huge naked DNA strand into a functional chromosome.

So, I think that replacing only vital parts in an existing genome (chicken or ostrich) is much easier.

We have to figure on what source the writer based this information. BastionMonk (talk) 20:41, October 21, 2013 (UTC)