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To: neverdem

Oops, I stand corrected - no cell. However, DNA and RNA are both strands of nucleic acids which could be affected adversely by a supersaturated saline solution, yes? I'm sincerely asking here. :)


39 posted on 11/30/2004 7:51:53 PM PST by bd476
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To: bd476
However, DNA and RNA are both strands of nucleic acids which could be affected adversely by a supersaturated saline solution, yes?

It said nothing about supersaturated saline solution. I went looking. On Bloomberg it was described as a simple saline solution. My guess is 0.9% normal saline, a common intravenous solution. IIRC, that's 9 grams of sodium chloride in a liter of distilled water.

In a extracellular environment, the DNA or RNA core will still be protected by the capsid.

A supersaturated solution will tend to draw fresh water into it. Did you ever hear of a semi-permeable membrane? If not here's an example from real life. I was fishing in the ocean off of the Atlantic using bloodworms, salt water critters. I took them back to Fort Bragg, tossed them in the dirt and give them a little tap water. They swelled up and died.

41 posted on 11/30/2004 8:39:17 PM PST by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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