Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by dragontamer 1922 days ago
I mean, my point is that "if (race == whatever)" is completely nonsensical from an mRNA perspective.

There's no way for mRNA to scan the rest of your DNA sequence to make an if/else determination. mRNA is just gonna execute once its in the body.

> Or how about some biological ransomware?

Yeah, that's called a poison and antidote / antitoxin. You don't need mRNA for that. Poison someone's food, and as they lie dying, you can offer them the antidote in exchange for something.
3 comments
jghn 1922 days ago
Also, one would have to define "race" in genomic terms. Good luck to the person attempting to do that.
link
Auracle 1921 days ago
Is that really that hard? A $100 genetic test will tell you what race(s) you are.
link
jghn 1921 days ago
Will it? Sure, you can predict from where your ancestors came, haplotype, etc.

But define race in a genomic sense. It's a feat that key genomic experts have not yet been able to accomplish. For instance: http://ewanbirney.com/2019/10/race-genetics-and-pseudoscienc...

link
amelius 1922 days ago
> I mean, my point is that "if (race == whatever)" is completely nonsensical from an mRNA perspective.

Is it? mRNA can code for a protein that detects other mRNA in the same cell, which may reflect any genetic characteristic of the host.

link
dragontamer 1922 days ago
mRNA isn't really code. Its a blueprint.

https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/translation-dna-to...

When we say mRNA "executes", that's a cell injesting mRNA, and assembling a protein (polypeptide). For example, the mRNA sequence 'ACU', when 'executed' by a cell, will turn into a Threonine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threonine

link
Dylan16807 1922 days ago
RNA can fold up and get stuck to other sequences. Using that as a trigger isn't out of the question.
link
xiphias2 1922 days ago
> There's no way for mRNA to scan the rest of your DNA sequence to make an if/else determination. mRNA is just gonna execute once its in the body.

Of course there is, genes can be turned on/off using transcription factors. Still, the sequence of vaccines are published and easy enough to sequence and analyze, so I don't think something like this could be mass produced.

link