LITHUANIAN ANTHEM ENCODED IN DNA MOLECULAR
On the occasion of the Statehood and National Anthem Day, young researchers in the field of molecular biology Raminta Antanynienė, Povilas Sakalauskas and Gustė Juškaitė presented an unusual gift to Lithuania and its people – the national anthem of Lithuania encoded in a DNA molecule using state-of-the-art technologies.
It is a gift for future generations, preserving what has always been important to us all, what unifies us and unites us as a nation, no matter what profession we are in, no matter where we live.
With the ever-evolving gene scanning technologies, all future generations will be able to decode this information without much hassle and reproduce the sound exactly as it sounded on the day of the recording. It is an innovative and meaningful step that preserves the words that are important to our nation.
So far, this has not been done in the world, so we, Lithuanians, are the first to have the opportunity to preserve the Lithuanian word forever.
The young researchers answer frequently asked questions:
- How can the principle of technology that encodes information in DNA be explained in general?
The information to be encoded is converted into computer binary code (made up of 0s and 1s), with the help of special algorithms this code is then converted to DNA code – the letters ATGC – and a sequence is formed. This sequence is produced (the DNA molecule is synthesized) using advanced gene synthesis techniques. After these steps, we already have the desired information recorded in the DNA. This molecule can be stored for thousands of years, and if necessary, using gene scanning technology, it can be read and converted into the DNA code and the information will be decoded.
- What form is obtained? Is it a cell, a piece of metal, or something else?
The resulting DNA is lyophilized (in powder form) and placed in a special capsule. The capsule is designed to be stored under standard room temperature conditions.
- How does the decoding of data work? Can the file be opened at any time? How long does it take?
Data decoding is performed by sequencing in 3 stages:
- Preparation. The DNA in the capsule is prepared for scanning;
- Sequencing. Using the state-of-the-art sequencing platform, a DNA scan is performed to obtain the genetic code in ATGC letters;
- Decoding. With the help of the computer algorithms, the DNA sequence is decoded, and the encoded information is obtained.
This procedure can be performed by institutions working with the next-generation sequencing platforms. This can be done at any time.
This gift was given on 5 July, the eve of the of the State and the National Anthem Day. The first lady Diana Nausėdienė received a gift from the young researchers for Lithuania and its people – the Lithuanian anthem encoded in a DNA molecule.
We invite to see the Lithuanian anthem encoded in the DNA molecule at the Centre for Civil Education II– V from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (pre-registration required), VI-VII 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (pre-registration is not required, last visitors are admitted at 5 p.m.).
-
Photo author LRPK Robertas Dačkus -
Photo author LRPK Robertas Dačkus -
Photo author LRPK Robertas Dačkus -
Photo author LRPK Robertas Dačkus -
Photo author LRPK Robertas Dačkus
