🚀 go-pugleaf

I apologise for my tardy follow-up on this.

Bob wrote:

> On Mon, 15 Oct 2001 01:56:23 +1000, Michael Jameson
> <m.jameson@hunterlink.net.au> wrote:
>
> >The paper that is the main focus of the article is "DNA recombination as
> >a possible mechanism in declarative memory" by Sandra Pena de Ortiz and
> >Yuri Arshavsky, Journal of Neuroscience Research, vol 63, p 72 (2001). A
> >second paper is also suggested as further reading, for which I found the
> >reference and abstract -
> >
> >Journal of Theoretical Biology 2001 Jan 21;208(2):145-9
> >"Memory and DNA."
> >Dietrich A, Been W.
> >Institute of Human Genetics, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical
> >Centre, Meibergdreef 15, NL 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
> >a.dietrich@amc.uva.nl
> >
> >A model is presented for the storage of long-term memory. In our model
> >consolidation takes place by specific DNA sequences. These DNA sequences
> >are obtained by the recombination of DNA in a similar way to that during
> >meiosis and the production of immunological antibodies. DNA has the
> >potential of the production of large numbers of specific DNA sequences.
> >These sequences can be attached to images of neural networks.The
> >following considerations lead to the theory: (1)Most of the DNA is not
> >used: approximately 3% of our DNA is used. (2)There are no cell
> >divisions in the brain after adulthood is reached. Structural DNA
> >arrangements will not be altered nor disrupted as a consequence of cell
> >division and mitosis. (3)Chromosomal pairing is demonstrated in the
> >brain, which could indicate the exchange of DNA. In addition, in our
> >first survey experiments we found a positive reaction of components of
> >the synaptonemal complex (SC) in the nuclei of brain cells. The SC is
> >highly meiosis specific and plays a major role in genetic recombination.
> >
> >Copyright 2001 Academic Press.
> >
>
> I don't _know_ any more about it than what you have posted here. But
> judging from the JTB abstract, this seems to be basically speculation.

Yes.

> It is a quite recent article, and the abstract attempting to make the
> case provides no evidence for it.

There's a little more in the New Scientist article but it's characterised as
'only circumstantial evidence so far'.

> It is an interesting speculation, and should be easily testable at
> this point.

I hope so, I'll keep a look out for such.

> Many of the genes involved in immunoglobin gene
> arrangements, and other recombination events, are known. They can be
> tested in mice to see whether memory defects arise when these genes
> are disrupted.

Seems like it should be fairly straightforward to get at least some results.
Thanks for pointing this out.

> bob

Mick.
--
"You are the music while the music lasts" - Antonio Damasio (after TS
Eliot).