How does a DNA molecule "know" what to do?

Question

From one fertilised egg a DNA molecule, if uncoiled, is about a nanometer thick and a meter long.

If it is an inanimate object, how does it "know" how to replicate itself trillions of times without a mistake and make a dog or a tree or even me?

My question is less to do with the mechanics or biology of the molecule (the ATGC code sequence etc) and more to do with how a single molecule can "know" how to make something like you or me.

Answer 1

Just as a key opens a door, so DNA is attracted to fullfill certain preprogammed roles, sometimes by chemical valency, sometimes by ionic magnetism, or electrical forces, and in a variety of other ways, many of which are yet unknown to mankind.

Answer 2

The replication process is started by a protein molecule which unzipps the double helix. Loose bases then attach by electromagentism. Adenine can only attach to Thymine and Cytosine can only attach to Guanine so each half produces a mirror image of itself.
What organism the DNA produces is controlled by DNA producing protein molecules which in turn define the cell type and thus build up the organism.

Answer 3

A question that has always been present in my mind.

How does an acorn contain all the ingreients for a massive tree, leaves nd all?

I take it you are looking for a scientific answer... in which case you will not get one.

Check out Wayne Dyer, the power of intention, it takes you through his perception of what the answer is. I suspect that it may not be many peoples cup of tea but if you want t olearn and know you must take on board all the answers and make your own mind up.

We are a part of creation as you so rightly pointed out in yoru question. You don;t have to be religious to understand how it works, in fact it may even work agianst you understanding how we came to be.

Goo dluck in your journey

Answer 4

It can't by itself it needs replicating nucleic acids. But how do they know what to do?

It's simple. It's because God designed it that way. Many things in nature have no other explanation. Like the fact that by all the rules of science, a bumblebee cannot fly. Yet it flies.

Answer 5

I believe inside DNA and RNA, just like in space, is Quantum mechanics. That tiny stuff has all the information in it for everything. DNA and RNA are also made up of Atoms, and inside Atoms are Quartz, which make up Quantum. The Quartzs tells the Atom what to do as well as DNA and RNA and cells.

Answer 6

This is a fascinating question and could probably be answered on various levels (scientific, philosophical etc) none of which are easy to prove - my personal and possibly simplistic stance would be one of creationism ie that DNA behaves the way it does because it was specifically and consciously designed to do so - and since none of us were involved in this process we simply don't know the full answer to your question.

Answer 7

Well - i'm a programmer.
I work too close to people closed to DNA related things ...
anyway ...

I create once a theory -just about that - and i wish to share it with you ( a litle cuted version - but still some interesting i think )

Well - There is something caled COMPRESSION ALGORITM.
and i think DNA have it in some way .. maybe it's some mathematic model in space - as 3D array of commpression points or something else - but this is a way to be searched about ...

Answer 8

That is the force of life.
We know that the instructions are to maintain life, through a self immunized body. But who programmed it like that? More specifically, why?

That is my final querry in my book "Purpose of life" due 2010.
I hope to get the answer by then. If not, I will postpone the book to my next re-incarnation.

Answer 9

I know a story about a molecular biologist who sought the answer to that question and the conclusion he came to at the end of his life is: "the more I know the less I understand".

Answer 10

Google Professor Richard Dawkins. He can tell you more about this than anyone else ever could.