A Model for Zerg Genetic Engineering

I am trying to design a hypothetical model for how the Zerg can genetically engineer new genes. Anyway I would appreciate any constructive critisism so go at it! Ill update this post as I refine it.




How could Zerg Read DNA?
1) "Narrocyte" binds to cell with DNA that the Zerg want to read (need to find a way to do this).
2) Target DNA travels into "Narrocytes" through transfer pores.
3) A "Narro" DNA Polymerase in the "Narrocyte" slowly replicates DNA. When it adds a nucleotide it stops and phosphorilates all "Nucleotide Identification Proteins" of that nucelotide. There are four "Nucleotide Identification Protiens" and each NIP is specific for either A,T,G or C.
4)Amplification of NIP signal causes release of Adenine-specific, Thymine-specific, Guanine-specific or Cytosine-specific vessicles each containing one of four different neurotransmitters.
5) These neurotransmitters are released into a Synaptic cleft composed of 4 different neurons. Each neuron expresses a receptor specific to one of the neurotransmitters.
6) Stimulation of the specific neuron provides information to the Zerg Neuro Network of which nucleotide has just been inserted.
7) Stimulation of the specific neuron also feeds back on the "Narrocyte" activating a pathway that allows the "Narro" polymerase to sythesize the next nucleotide and begin phosphorilating its complementary NIP.




How could the Zerg donate DNA to a target cell?
Neuro Network-> Release of one of four neurotransmitters-> -"Stilus Receptor" (four varients each with fast hydrolase activity) recieves neurotransmiter -> Activates transmembrain domain of "Stilus Receptor"-> transmembrain domain interacts with "CREO" DNA polymerase (doesn’t require template) -> "CREO" DNA polymerase synthesises specific nucleotide depending on which of the four "Stilus Receptors" was activated.


How could Zerg Test different genetic material?
Step 1
Importation of methylated plasmids into "Varicytes"

Step 2
Introduction of genetic variation

Type 1: Transposase mediated
DNA of select plasmids is shuffled. (Hox homologies and other morphogenesis genes)->Many shuffled variants of target segments.
Type 2: De nova mutation mediated
Target DNA segment of select plasmids replaced by RNA -> Many rounds of low fidelity replication and cytokinesis->Many mutations in target segment

Step 3
Analysis of New protein interactions

Transcription/Translation of plasmids ->Expressed on "Varicyte" cell surface-> Expressed protein interacts with "L-Receptor" of "Legocytes".


"L-Receptor" are MHS type receptors. They are synthesized in "Legocytes" through Neuro Network to "Stilus" Receptor to "CREO" DNA polymerase pathway. Neuro Network knows which "Legocytes" display which "L-Receptor" proteins. Can identify which genetic variants of target plasmid succesfully interact with L-receptors. Can then read target plasmid by transfering plasmid to Narrocytes.

Explain it better than this. You imagine stuff that you barely explain what it is. Furthermore, I took advanced biology classes at the university and I have problems following all of what you wrote so I can't imagine how others without the knowledge will be able to understand anything.

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Originally Posted by sandwich_bird

Explain it better than this. You imagine stuff that you barely explain what it is. Furthermore, I took advanced biology classes at the university and I have problems following all of what you wrote so I can't imagine how others without the knowledge will be able to understand anything.

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Yah that was just notes. Im going to put it in full sentences and explain in a lil bit.

I certainly don't understand jack...

Ok lets start at the beginning. First you say: ""Narrocyte" binds to cell with DNA that the Zerg want to read."

What's a narrocyte? A zerg cell I imagine? I suppose not everyone know that cyte = cell so you should write:

Narrocyte ( a specialised cell used by Zergs in the process of host DNA identification) binds to the cell of a host"

That way it would be more clear.

Now Next thing, you say: "Target DNA travels into "Narrocytes" through transfer pores." wtf? The zerg cell just bind to the host cell and the DNA magicaly decompress from the host nucleus(assuming the host is an eucaryote like what we have here on earth) and go into the Narrocyte? You should explain more this part like I don't know, the Narrocyte release a special compound X into the host cell that destroy the nucleus membrane, making all the compressed DNA chromosome move into the cytoplasm. Another compound could then be released from the narrocyte to form little visicle around the chromosome so that all the the various stuff in the host cytoplasm doesn't interact with the chromosome. Then I don't know, the interaction of this new formed vesicle with the chromosome would make the molecule able to attach to a special protein that is binded on the narrocyte tube (that was used to bind the narrocyte on the host cell) and then the interaction of the protein and the vesicle would make the protein change form so that the vesicle would move into the narrocyte tube and then migrate to the narrocyte cytoplasm.

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Originally Posted by sandwich_bird

Ok lets start at the beginning. First you say: ""Narrocyte" binds to cell with DNA that the Zerg want to read."

What's a narrocyte? A zerg cell I imagine? I suppose not everyone know that cyte = cell so you should write:

Narrocyte ( a specialised cell used by Zergs in the process of host DNA identification) binds to the cell of a host"

That way it would be more clear.

Now Next thing, you say: "Target DNA travels into "Narrocytes" through transfer pores." wtf? The zerg cell just bind to the host cell and the DNA magicaly decompress from the host nucleus(assuming the host is an eucaryote like what we have here on earth) and go into the Narrocyte? You should explain more this part like I don't know, the Narrocyte release a special compound X into the host cell that destroy the nucleus membrane, making all the compressed DNA chromosome move into the cytoplasm. Another compound could then be released from the narrocyte to form little visicle around the chromosome so that all the the various stuff in the host cytoplasm doesn't interact with the chromosome. Then I don't know, the interaction of this new formed vesicle with the chromosome would make the molecule able to attach to a special protein that is binded on the narrocyte tube (that was used to bind the narrocyte on the host cell) and then the interaction of the protein and the vesicle would make the protein change form so that the vesicle would move into the narrocyte tube and then migrate to the narrocyte cytoplasm.

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Yah every thing i made up I put in quotes like "narrocyte". I left the first part vague cause i havnt figured out a good way yet. Part of it has to do with recognizing and gaining acess to the target cell and then extraction of DNA.

Im thinking one useful method (for eucharyotes) maybe to induce the cell to enter mitosis in which case the nuclear envelope would dissolve and chromtin would be compact and easily extracted.

Was there anything to control promoters and activators? And how do you ensure only the right cells transcribe the right genes?

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Originally Posted by Kimera757

Was there anything to control promoters and activators? And how do you ensure only the right cells transcribe the right genes?

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Thats the real tricky part. So much is regulation and modification. As it stands the Varicytes would translate unregulated protein and then compare it with matching protiens on the L-receptors. Hmmm ill think about it.

Where's Nicol Bolas? I want to see him repost his wall of text about biology.

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Originally Posted by Pandonetho

Where's Nicol Bolas? I want to see him repost his wall of text about biology.

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Where did he post a biology wall-o-text?

Some random thread where he was babbling off about the Zerg being an impossible species.

I was really hoping this would make sense instead of you making up 50 random words that dont exist :(

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Originally Posted by newcomplex

I was really hoping this would make sense instead of you making up 50 random words that dont exist :(

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There are six made up words that I put in quotations. I gave them a new name to make it clearer to understand that this did something differnent than a normal version. For instance the "Stilus Receptor" is transmembrane to both the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelop unlike normal receptors that are transmembrane to only the plasma membrane.


The rest are from real biological systems albet altered.. Like transposase for instance. I still have to finish making the rest of the OP more sentences and less random thoughts. Ive been thinking about the promoter and regulation stuff. I think the system I proposed has a tough time dealing with regulation. Exons only account for 3% of our DNA with ~28% being regulator sequences.
However the system I proposed is still good for allowing the zerg to determine which protien products interact with each other. I will come up with system were zerg can test different regulation of exons. These are tools the zerg could use to genetically manipulate. They arnt the whole picture.