Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Psalm 139:14 NLT
"Yet another layer of complexity has been added to the lowly
Prior to this discovery, it was thought all parts of the circular
chromosome of the bacteria were fully expressed. In other words, the
bacterium could not control chromosome accessibility.
Now it’s been discovered bacteria can regulate their gene (DNA)
expression by way of a simple but interesting energy-rich molecule
called polyphosphate (or polyP)—ubiquitous in the living world.
--It targets a specific protein in the bacterial genome (the total
genetic information) that contains problematic elements (e.g.
prophages), preventing their transcription (production of RNA molecules
using the bacterial DNA strand as a template).
--Such an important step
silences parts of a bacterium’s chromosome (genetic elements) that can
cause problems such as harmful mutations.
--When polyphosphate is absent
there is a mobilization of deleterious transposons (DNA elements) and
prophages, resulting in cell death via DNA damage.
This discovery of self-protection through selective genetic silencing
indicates that bacteria are once again far from simple cells and reflects the mind of the all-wise Creator." ICR
