One octahedron-to-two tetrahedrons…

The tetrahedral-octahedral layer is found naturally in nature within phyllosilicates. Yet, that simple structure in nature is rendered here in clear plastic. It is easier to study and analyze and to ask a few “What if?” questions.

For example, the yellow and green tape of the model above render a more basic form of a double-helix. Could it be a deeper domain, a simpler structure, that gives rise to the even richer complexity of the RNA-DNA sequencing that is observed?

I would be the first to acknowledge that it is a stretch.

Notwithstanding, in March 2007, I contacted several biologists to test that rather undeveloped thought. I started with Dr. Francis Collins, at that time the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Collins had written a book and his publisher had asked me to provide her with some feedback.

When approached by email and then by telephone, Collins was never available. I suspect he believes it is overly simplistic. However, in time, I may be vindicated in some manner of speaking.

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URL:  https://81018.com/2008/01/02/totline/ (January 2009)

URL: https://81018.com/2020/09/25/collins/

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