Living Circuits
The idea was to build a DNA device acting like a circuit that could be switched on and off. The problem was that electricity had to flip the switch.
A Hook That Finds Humans
Dirt was collected from Belgium, Croatia, France, Russia, and Spain and filtered for human DNA. To heighten the chances, all 85 samples were from archaeological sites 14,000—550,000 years old.
Surgery On Embryos
In a bid to cure a dangerous blood disorder, Chinese scientists created human embryos in the laboratory. In 2017, the project involved cloned embryos and tissues taken from a patient who suffered from beta-thalassemia.
A Sacrificial Skin
In 2017, scientists came up with an ingenious idea. A sunscreen made from the DNA of salmon sperm absorbs UV damage almost as if it were a second skin. The longer sunlight zaps it, the better it works. Those who like roasting for hours don’t have to worry about dehydrated skin, either. The fishy film keeps the moisture in.
Gene Theft
The estimated 6,000 poached genes belonged to bacteria, fungi, plants, and archaea. The tardigrades have a survival mechanism where they dry themselves out. This fractures their DNA. During rehydration, the genome reassembles and possibly absorbs alien bits that way.