Monthly Archives: September 2022

DNA Definition

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a biological macromolecule that carries hereditary information in many organisms. DNA is necessary for the production of proteins, the regulation, metabolism, and reproduction of the cell. Large compressed DNA molecules with associated proteins, called chromatin, are mostly present inside the nucleus. Some cytoplasmic organelles like the mitochondria also contain DNA molecules.

DNA is usually a double-stranded polymer of nucleotides, although single-stranded DNA is also known. Nucleotides in DNA are molecules made of deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate and a nitrogenous base. The nitrogenous bases in DNA are of four types adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine. The phosphate and the deoxyribose sugars form a backbone-like structure, with the nitrogenous bases extending out like rungs of a ladder. Each sugar molecule is linked through its third and fifth carbon atoms to one phosphate molecule each.

DNA was isolated and discovered chemically before its functions became clear. DNA and its related molecule, ribonucleic acid (RNA), were initially identified simply as acidic molecules that were present in the nucleus. When Mendels experiments on genetics were rediscovered, it became clear that heredity was probably transmitted through discrete particles, and that there was a biochemical basis for inheritance. A series of experiments demonstrated that among the four types of macromolecules within the cell (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids), the only chemicals that were consistently transmitted from one generation to the next were nucleic acids.

As it became clear that DNA was the material that was transferred from one generation to the next, its functions began to be investigated.

Every DNA molecule is distinguished by its sequence of nucleotides. That is, the order in which nitrogenous bases appear within the macromolecule identify a DNA molecule. For instance, when the human genome was sequenced, the nucleotides constituting each of the 23 pairs of chromosomes were laid out, like a string of words on a page. There are individual differences in these nucleotide sequences, but overall, for every organism, large stretches are conserved. The sugar phosphate backbone, on the other hand, is common to all DNA molecules, across species, whether in bacteria, plants, invertebrates or humans.

When a double-stranded DNA molecule needs to be replicated, the first thing that happens is that the two strands separate along a short stretch, creating a bubble-like structure. In this transient single-stranded region, a number of enzymes and other proteins, including DNA polymerase work to create the complementary strand, with the correct nucleotide being chosen through hydrogen bond formation. These enzymes continue along each strand creating a new polynucleotide molecule until the entire DNA is replicated.

Life begins from a single cell. For humans, this is the zygote formed by the fertilization of an egg by a sperm. After this, the entire dazzling array of cells and tissue types are produced by cell division. Even the maintenance of normal functions in an adult requires constant mitosis. Each time a cell divides, nuclear genetic material is duplicated. This implies that nearly 3 billion nucleotides are accurately read and copied. High-fidelity DNA polymerases and a host of error repair mechanisms ensure that there is only one incorrectly incorporated nucleotide for every 10 billion base pairs.

The second important function of genetic material is to direct the physiological activities of the cell. Most catalytic and functional roles in the body are carried out by peptides, proteins and RNA. The structure and function of these molecules is determined by nucleotide sequences in DNA.

When a protein or RNA molecule needs to be produced, the first step is transcription. Like DNA replication, this begins with the transient formation of a single-stranded region. The single-stranded region then acts as the template for the polymerization of a complementary polynucleotide RNA molecule. Only one of the two strands of DNA is involved in transcription. This is called the template strand and the other strand is called the coding strand. Since transcription is also dependent on complementary base pairing, the RNA sequence is nearly the same as the coding strand.

In the image, the coding strands and the template strands are depicted in orange and purple respectively. RNA is transcribed in the 5 to 3 direction.

One of the main functions of any hereditary material is to be replicated and inherited. In order to create a new generation, genetic information needs to be accurately duplicated and then transmitted. The structure of DNA ensures that the information coded within every polynucleotide strand is replicated with astonishing accuracy.

Even though it is important for DNA to be duplicated with a very high degree of accuracy, the overall process of evolution requires the presence of genetic variability within every species. One of the ways in which this happens is through mutations in DNA molecules.

Changes to the nucleotide sequence in genetic material allows for the formation of new allele. Alleles are different, mostly functional, varieties of every gene. For instance, people who have B blood group have a certain gene resulting in a particular surface protein on red blood cells. This protein is distinct from the surface antigens in those who have blood group A. Similarly, people with sickle cell anemia have a different hemoglobin allele compared to those who do not suffer from the illness.

The presence of this variability allows at least some populations to survive when there is a sudden and drastic change to the environment. For instance, individuals carrying a mutated allele for hemoglobin are at risk for sickle cell anemia. However, they also have a higher chance of survival in regions where malaria is endemic.

These mutations and the presence of variability allow populations to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances.

On another level, DNAs role as genetic material and an understanding of its chemistry allows us to manipulate it and use it to enhance quality of life. For example, genetically modified crops that are pest or drought resistant have been generated from wild type varieties through genetic engineering. A lot of molecular biology is dependent on the isolation and manipulation of DNA, for the study of living processes.

When its definitive role in heredity was established, understanding DNAs structure became important. Previous work on protein crystals guided the interpretation of crystallization and X-Ray differaction of DNA. The correct interpretation of diffraction data started a new era in understanding and manipulating genetic material. While initially, scientists like Linus Pauling suggested that DNA was perhaps made of three strands, Rosalind Franklins data supported the presence of a double helix.

The structure of DNA therefore, was elucidated in a step-wise manner through a series of experiments, starting from the chemical isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid by Frederich Miescher to the X-ray crystallography of this macromolecule by Rosalind Franklin.

The image is a simplified representation of a short DNA molecule, with deoxyribose sugar molecules in orange, linked to phosphate molecules through a special type of covalent linkage called the phosphodiester bond. Each nitrogenous base is represented by a different color thymine in purple, adenine in green, cytosine in red and guanine in blue. The bases from each strand form hydrogen bonds with one another, stabilizing the double-stranded structure.

The structure of the sugar phosphate backbone in a DNA molecule results in a chemical polarity. Each deoxyribose sugar has five carbon atoms. Of these, the third and the fifth carbon atoms can form covalent bonds with phosphate moieties through phosphodiester bonds. A phosphodiester linkage essentially has a phosphate molecule forming two covalent bonds and a series of these bonds creates the two spines of a double-stranded DNA molecule.

Alternating sugar and phosphate residues results in one end of every DNA strand having a free phosphate group attached to the fifth carbon of a deoxyribose sugar. This is called the 5 end. The other end has a reactive hydroxyl group attached to the third carbon atom of the sugar molecule and makes the 3 end.

The two strands of every DNA molecule have opposing chemical polarities. That is, at the end of every double-stranded DNA molecule, one strand will have a reactive 3 hydroxyl group and the other strand will have the reactive phosphate group attached to the fifth carbon of deoxyribose. This is why a DNA molecule is said to be made of antiparallel strands.

A DNA molecule can look like a ladder, with a sugar phosphate backbone and nucleotide rungs. However, a DNA molecule forms a three-dimensional helical structure, with the bases tucked inside the double helix. Hydrogen bonding between nucleotides allows the intermolecular distance between two strands to remain fairly constant, with ten base pairs in every turn of the double helix.

Nucleotide bases on one strand interact with those on the other strand through two or three hydrogen bonds. This pattern is predictable (though exceptions exist), with every thymine base pairing with an adenine base, and the guanine and cytosine nucleotides forming hydrogen bonds with each other. Due to this, when the sequence of a single strand is known, the nucleotides present in the complementary strand of DNA are automatically revealed. For instance, if one strand of a DNA molecule has the sequence 5 CAGCAGCAG 3, the bases on the other antiparallel strand that pair with this stretch will be 5 CTGCTGCTG 3. This property of DNA double strands is called complementarity.

Initially, there was debate about the manner in which DNA molecules are duplicated. There were three major hypotheses about the mechanism of DNA replication. The two complementary strands of DNA could unwind at short stretches and provide the template for the formation of a new DNA molecule, formed completely from free nucleotides. This method was named the conservative hypothesis.

Alternatively, each template strand could catalyze the formation of its complementary strand through nucleotide polymerization. In this semi-conservative mode of replication, all duplicated DNA molecules would carry one strand from the parent and one newly synthesized strand. In effect, all duplicated DNA molecules would be hybrids. The third hypothesis stated that every large DNA molecule was probably broken into small segments before it was replicated. This was called the dispersive hypothesis and would result in mosaic molecules.

A series of elegant experiments by Matthew Meselson, and Franklin Stahl, with help from Mason MacDonald and Amandeep Sehmbi, supported the idea that DNA replication was, in fact, semi-conservative. At the end of every duplication event, all DNA molecules carry one parental strand and one strand newly created from nucleotide polymerization.

As microscopes started to become more sophisticated and provide greater magnification, the role of the nucleus in cell division became fairly clear. On the other hand, there was the common understanding of heredity as the mixing of maternal and paternal characteristics, since the fusion of two nuclei during fertilization had been observed.

However, the discovery of DNA as the genetic material probably began with the work of Gregor Mendel. When his experiments were rediscovered, an important implication came to light. His results could only be explained through the inheritance of discrete particles, rather than through the diffuse mixing of traits. While Mendel called them factors, with the advent of chemistry into biological sciences, a hunt for the molecular basis of heredity began.

DNA was first chemically isolated and purified by Johann Friedrich Miescher who was studying immunology. Specifically, he was trying to understand the biochemistry of white blood cells. After isolating the nuclei from the cytoplasm, he discovered that when acid was added to these extracts, stringy white clumps that looked like a tufts of wool, separated from the solution. Unlike proteins, these precipitates went back into solution upon the addition of an alkali. This led Miescher to conclude that the macromolecule was acidic in nature. When further experiments showed that the molecule was neither a lipid nor a protein, he realized that he had isolated a new class of molecules. Since it was derived from the nucleus, he named this substance nuclein.

The work of Albrecht Kossel shed more light on the chemical nature of this substance when he showed that nuclein (or nucleic acid as it was beginning to be called) was made of carbohydrates, phosphates, and nitrogenous bases. Kossel also made the important discovery connecting the biochemical study of nucleic acids with the microscopic analysis of dividing cells. He linked this acidic substance with chromosomes that could be observed visually and confirmed that this class of molecules was nearly completely present only in the nucleus. The other important discovery of Kossels was to link nucleic acids with an increase in protoplasm, and cell division, thereby strengthening its connection with heredity and reproduction.

By the turn of the twentieth century, molecular biology experienced a number of seminal discoveries that brought about an enhanced understanding of the chemical basis of life and cell division. In 1944, experiments by three scientists, (Avery, McCarty and McLeod) provided strong evidence that nucleic acids, specifically DNA, was probably the genetic material. A few years later, Chargaffs experiments showed that the number of purine bases in every DNA molecule equaled the number of pyrimidine bases. In 1952, an elegant experiment by Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase confirmed DNA as the genetic material.

By this time, advances in X-Ray crystallography had allowed the crystallization of DNA and study of its diffraction patterns. Finally, these molecules could be visualized with greater granularity. The data generated by Rosalind Franklin allowed James Watson and Francis Crick to then propose the double-stranded helical model for DNA, with a sugar-phosphate backbone. They incorporated Chargaffs rules for purine and pyrimidine quantities by showing that every purine base formed specific hydrogen bond linkages with another pyrimidine base. They understood even as they proposed this structure that they had provided a mechanism for DNA duplication.

In order to visualize this molecule, they built a three-dimensional model of a double helical DNA, using aluminum templates. The image above shows the template of the base Thymine, with accurate bond angles and lengths.

The final model built by Watson and Crick (as seen above) is now on display at the National Science Museum in London.

1. Which of these statements about DNA is NOT true?A. In eukaryotes, DNA is present exclusively in the nucleusB. DNA is the genetic material for some virusesC. DNA replication is semi-conservativeD. None of the above

Answer to Question #1

A is correct. Even in eukaryotes, DNA does exist outside the nucleus. Organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts carry some DNA molecules.

2. Which of these scientists designed an experiment to show that DNA replication was semi-conservative?A. MeselsonB. James WatsonC. Linus PaulingD. All of the above

Answer to Question #2

A is correct. Among these three scientists, only Meselson was involved in the design of the experiment that showed how DNA was replicated. Linus Pauling was involved in developing X-Ray crystallography as a method for understanding the structure of biological macromolecules. James Watson used the X-Ray diffraction data generated by Rosalind Franklin to propose the double helical model for the three-dimensional structure of DNA.

3. Why was the rediscovery of Mendels experiments important for the development of molecular biology?A. Mendels experiments suggested that DNA was the hereditary materialB. Mendels laws of inheritance suggested that there were discrete biochemical particles involved in heredityC. Mendels experiments with pea plants gave molecular biologists a useful model organismD. All of the above

Answer to Question #3

B is correct. Until Mendel experimented with pea plants, it was never clear how heredity was achieved. Though the gross mechanisms involved were always known, the details were never clear. Common knowledge seemed to suggest that traits reached an average between parents. For instance, with one tall parent and a short parent, the offspring was usually of intermediate height. Similarly for skin coloring and so on. However, once Mendel had done his experiments using true breeding specimens, it was fairly clear that discrete particles were being inherited. This, along with advancements in chemistry, allowed the development of molecular biology and biochemistry as fields of study. There was nothing in Mendels experiments to suggest that DNA was the genetic material. In addition, Mendels pea plants are not really preferred as model organisms because of the vast areas needs to cultivate the specimens and their long generation time.

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DNA - Definition, Function, Structure and Discovery - Biology Dictionary

Using fossilized eggs in up to 2500-year-old feces from Viking settlements in Denmark and other countries, researchers at the University of Copenhagens Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Wellcome Sanger Institute (UK) have made the largest and most in-depth genetic analysis of one of the oldest parasites found in humans the whipworm.

The study, published in Nature Communications, presents completely new knowledge about the parasite's development and prehistoric dispersal. This knowledge can be applied in efforts to prevent the parasite's drug resistance and its future spread.

The study suggests that human and parasite have developed a delicate interaction over thousands of years, whereby the parasite tries to stay under the radar not to be repelled, which allows it more time to infect new people. From other studies, it is known that the whipworm stimulates the human immune system and the gut microbiome, to the mutual benefit of both host and parasite.

While whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) is now rare in industrialized countries, and most often only causes minor problems among healthy individuals, the parasite is estimated to affect 500 million people in developing countries.

"In people who are malnourished or have impaired immune systems, whipworm can lead to serious illness. Our mapping of the whipworm and its genetic development makes it easier to design more effective anti-worm drugs that can be used to prevent the spread of this parasite in the world's poorest regions," says Professor Christian Kapel of UCPHs Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences.

Eggs, not worms, made it possible for researchers to examine the genetic material of thousands-of-years-old whipworms. Due to extremely durable chitin in egg capsules, their internal DNA has been well preserved while the eggs have been buried in moist soil.

By examining fossilized stool samples which were previously discovered in the latrines of Viking settlements in Viborg and Copenhagen, the researchers isolated the eggs under a microscope, sieved them from the stool and subjected them to refined genetic analyses that the researchers have been perfecting for years in previous studies.

"We have known for a long time that we could detect parasite eggs up to 9000 years old under a microscope. Lucky for us, the eggs are designed to survive in soil for long periods of time. Under optimal conditions, even the parasite's genetic material can be preserved extremely well. And some of the oldest eggs that weve extracted some DNA from are 5000 years old. It has been quite surprising to fully map the genome of 1000-year-old well-preserved whipworm eggs in this new study," explains Christian Kapel.

The researchers examined archaeological stool samples from several locations. These ancient genetic samples are compared with contemporary samples obtained from people with whipworms from around the world. Doing so has provided researchers with an overview of the worm's genome and its evolution over ten-thousands of years.

"Unsurprisingly, we can see that the whipworm appears to have spread from Africa to the rest of the world along with humans about 55,000 years ago, following the so-called 'out of Africa' hypothesis on human migration," explains Christian Kapel.

A whipworm can grow five to seven centimeters in length and live unnoticed in the intestine of a healthy individual for several months. During this time, it lays eggs continuously, which are expelled through feces. In people with weakened immune systems, whipworm can cause a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases, malnutrition and even delay childhood development.

Worms are transmitted via the fecal-oral route, meaning that microscopic parasite eggs in soil can spread to drinking water or food, after which they are ingested through the mouth of a new host.

"The eggs lie in the ground and develop for roughly three months. Once matured, eggs can survive in the wild for even longer, as they wait to be consumed by a new host in whose digestive tract they will then hatch. Their entire life cycle is adapted to survive in soil for as long as possible," explains Christian Kapel.

As such, the golden years for these worms in our part of the world were when our toilet and kitchen conditions, as well as personal hygiene, were significantly different than today.

"During the Viking Age and well into the Middle Ages, one didn't have very sanitary conditions or well-separated cooking and toilet facilities. This allowed the whipworm far better opportunities to spread. Today, it is very rare in the industrialized part of world. Unfortunately, favorable conditions for spreading still exist in less developed regions of the world," says Christian Kapel.

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Viking Poop DNA Reveals New Insights on Relationship With Gut Companions - Technology Networks

This partnership will reimagine personalized health with genomics and raw PPG biometric data and create a comprehensive non-invasive and reliable precision therapeutics solution

BURBANK, Calif., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EndoCanna Health ("EndoCanna"), the industry leader in endocannabinoid system genomic testing, has chosen to partner with Biostrap USA, LLC ("Biostrap"), a digital health leader in pioneering the industry of medical-grade biosensors, data processing techniques and machine learning, to offer a personalized therapeutics solution.

"It's the raw data that really separated Biostrap from everybody else."

"By aligning DNA with biometrics, we are able to create hyper-personalization to offer better outcomes while minimizing adverse reactions," Len May, CEO and Founder of EndoCanna Health said, adding that "it's the raw data that really separated Biostrap from everybody else. Using the Biostrap wrist-worn device, we're able to verify the efficacy and the outcome of the actual protocol that's been suggested, creating a truly personalized therapeutic experience."

CBD and cannabinoid products available on the US market today are vast. According to Statista, sales of legal recreational cannabis are expected to reach an estimated $25 billion by 2025. While, sales of CBD products are expected to grow to $16 billion in value by 2026.

Each year, millions of people turn to these therapeutics for various reasons from easing chronic pain or anxiety and depression to helping with sleep and elevating overall mood. However, more often than not, the efficacy of these products remain questionable on an individual level. Thus, there's no one-size-fits-all solution.

The cannabis plant has more than 500 compounds and over 100 cannabinoids of which, CBD is one and THC is another. In addition to that, every individual has a unique endocannabinoid system, or ECS, that is made up of millions of cannabinoid receptors throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems.

How a person's body reacts to any type of CBD or cannabinoid product will depend on their ECS and genetic makeup. That's where the EndoCanna and Biostrap partnership makes a difference.

Through analyzing more than 675,000 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) related to the ECS, the science team at EndoCanna has been able to uncover unique endocannabinoid genotypes to provide precision matching of cannabinoid and THC ratios and terpene profiles for an individual's health goals.

Taking it a step further, combining genomic data with Biostrap's ultra high-fidelity raw photoplethysmography, or PPG, biometric data will offer a wrist-worn, non-invasive way to measure treatment efficacy, improve outcomes and minimize risk or any adverse side effects.

After establishing an individual's endocannabinoid profile and receiving a personal protocol from a medical professional, an EndoCanna Care Counselor will monitor each client's sleep and nocturnal biometrics through a HIPAA-compliant platform to provide feedback and help interpret the data.

"This is the kind of partnership that shows how Biostrap's clinically reliable PPG data can bridge the gap between personalizing health interventions and treatments, and monitoring the efficacy of a prescribed protocol with data-driven accuracy," Sameer Sontakey, CEO and Co-Founder of Biostrap said. "Our team believes that providing a secure, reliable and cloud-based remote physiologic monitoring platform can truly help personalize and optimize the precision therapeutics experience."

AboutEndoCanna Health

Endocanna Health is the industry leader in endocannabinoid system genomic testing and the manufacturer of genetically aligned formulations that create optimal cannabis experiences.

Endocanna is a biotechnology research company that utilizes a patent-pending process for its cannabinoid DNA variant report, EndoDecoded, and product matching algorithm, EndoAligned. EndoDNA provides two ways to submit DNA for analysis, either collected through a simple saliva swab or a direct upload of genetic data files from popular DNA testing services like Ancestry, 23andMe, Family TreeDNA, or MyHeritage DNA. Endocanna's HIPAA compliant and secure health and wellness portal, Mydna.live, provides customers with a personalized experience to access their EndoDecoded report and EndoAligned formulation suggestions for their specific genotype.

Learn more at http://www.endodna.com.

About Biostrap

Biostrap is pioneering the industry of medical-grade biosensors, lossless data processing techniques and artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide custom digital health solutions for health care and government organizations, clinical research and telehealth and telemedicine industries. Biostrap captures clinical-grade, continuous, ultra high-fidelity raw signals for analysis in a cloud-based Pulse Engine. Built with convenience, efficiency and security in mind, Biostrap translates complex biometric signals into customized insights, dashboards and mobile applications to meet their clients' needs. API & Bluetooth SDK Integration options available. Learn more at http://www.biostrap.com

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ENDOCANNA HEALTH TO SELECT BIOSTRAP TO FURTHER PERSONALIZE AND OPTIMIZE CLIENTS' DNA-MATCHED CANNABINOID EXPERIENCE AND PROVIDE A CLINICALLY RELIABLE...

New Delhi: Although there have been several technological triumphs in our country, people's obsession with meaningless superstitions still exists. Women are more often than not the victims of such superstitions. In a recent case, 3 women were beaten to deathin Ranadih village near Ranchi district of Jharkhand as they were accused of being 'witches'. The villagers suspected that the women residing in the village were 'ichhadhari serpents'. This refers to the myth of a serpent that lives in the guise of a woman during the day and becomes a serpent at night.

In today's DNA, Zee News' Rohit Ranjan will analyze how superstition against women is still prevalent in remote parts of the country and leads to more than 100 deaths per year.

The women were labelled 'ichhadhari serpents' by a healer or 'Ojha'. A few villagers had been bit by a snake in the past. To investigate this, the 'ojha' was called and he concluded that it was the three women who were actually serpents. The villagers have reportedly stopped speaking about the killings of the women but police are investigating the case.

Many people think these incidents are very rare and that they don't happen anymore. However, the data speaks a different story. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, between 2001 and 2020, 2,885 women were killed as witches in the country. That is, every year 144 women were killed as witches. Jharkhand tops the list in such incidents, where 590 women have been killed as witches in the last 20 years. Odisha is second with 506 murders and Andhra Pradesh is third with 409 murders.

Cases of killing by calling them witches are especially seen in tribal areas. This is still a major problem in rural areas. There are different reasons as to why a particular woman may be accused of being a witch such as:

Although there are awareness programs in Jharkhand for this issue, there is still a stronger belief in 'tantriks' and supernatural healers over laws and officials.

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DNA Exclusive: Analysis of superstitions against women in villages - Zee News

OTARU, Hokkaido--DNA testing has identified a skull found on the coast near the site of the fatal Kazu I tour boat disaster as that of one of the missing passengers, according to the Japan Coast Guard.

Officials have now confirmed 15 of the 26 passengers and crew members to be dead, but the 11 others remain unaccounted for.

The Kazu I sank in rough seas off the Shiretoko Peninsula, eastern Hokkaido, on April 23.

Volunteers, including fishermen, who were searching for the missing people, discovered the human skull on Aug. 14 near Bunkichi Bay, about 900 meters southwest of Cape Shiretoko. They submitted the skull to Hokkaido prefectural police.

They also found sneakers and a womans clothing in the vicinity.

Hokkaido prefectural police on Sept. 2 informed Coast Guard officials that the DNA of the skull matched that of a passenger, according to the 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Otaru, Hokkaido.

It said that Coast Guard officials have reported their findings to the passengers bereaved family.

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DNA of remains matches one of the missing Kazu I passengers | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis -

The third edition of BERLIN, BERLIN has arrived. From in-person pop-ups and parties, to exclusive content and products, we're delving into Berlin's creative culture. Explore the contenthereand browse the dropshere. BERLIN, BERLIN is made possible thanks to support by the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises.

Mercedes-Benz is having a moment. From a Balenciaga collab, to a Virgil Abloh release, and even a teased A$AP Rocky x AWGE collab, everyone is working with the famed auto manufacturer. To add to the list is Acte TM, a rising creative studio based in Berlin. The agency has overseen a broad range of projects from installations in the Eastern Alps with Moncler to handling art direction for the coveted Prada x adidas collection, and has even worked with Mercedes-Benz before.

For this release, the studio wanted to expand on duo's collaborative design language and draw inspiration from Mercedes-Benzs digital and physical archives.

We were very open to a collaboration that would allow us to think together about how luxury and purism can coexist or even merge in the future," Acte TM tells us, who learned of the project from Antoni Garage, a Berlin based agency known for its work with the automotive manufacturer. For the project, we drew on the brand's information archive to delve deeper into its background, especially its history that combines emotion and intelligence into design that operates away from trends and thus has a timeless effect.

The entire Capsule Collection includes 28 handmade pieces that can be combined to create a variety of looks. Each item is modular and exists in a coherent system that builds on each piece.

Pieces like the ACC-LT01, a performance oriented bodysuit made of old advertising banners that look akin to one of Mercedes-Benz most influential patents, the airbag, are a perfect example of the innovation Acte TM brings to the table. The entire suit borrows Mercedes-Benz's anti-slip application commonly found in the interior and exterior of its vehicles.

The AB-BG01, a bag that mimics the basic characteristics of a car body utilizes a large 3D printed storage case that can be changed, or replaced to fit inside the bags recycled aluminum frame. Due to the modular, exchangeable individual parts of the bag, it also picks up the methodology and function of the consoles in the interior.

The studio also teamed up with winner of the first BERLIN, BERLIN Prize Kasia Kucharska to assist with the bold project.

We chose to work with Studio Kasia Kucharska as they specialize not only in fashion design, but in sustainable and innovative manufacturing techniques, which we were able to integrate and benefit from for ACC01. Like Acte TM, Kasia Kucharska also makes future forward work that pushes the boundaries of design and clothing.

After a long preparation process with a first test run, we approached them to collaborate on the project, Acte TM mentions. Since then, we have closely worked together on further developing the design and the physical engineering of the garments. We had regular fittings in their studio, flipping ideas and possibilities to find the best solution for each garment.

When asked about the project Acte TM mentioned Its an exciting process to take these components and transform them into a new functional object or product. Regardless of the discipline or work thats made, the Mercedes-Benz DNA of intelligence and emotion remains evident through these references.

You can view the new ACC01 Capsule Collection exclusively at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week from Sep 5-7 at NOWADAYS.

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Acte TM Fuses the DNA of Mercedes-Benz in the New Collection - Highsnobiety