How long would you survive with no DNA? (www.youtube.com)

submitted 4 months ago by schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de to c/xkcd@lemmy.world

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[-] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 1 points 4 months ago

But RNA would still be there, right? Definitely not enough to save the day, but at least you would have some borrowed time.

[-] Quetzalcutlass@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

A quick death is preferable. Just ask Hisashi Ouchi, a victim of severe irradiation who was kept alive in agonizing pain for nearly three months as his body decayed around him.

[-] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 2 points 4 months ago

I was thinking about that case too. There was also plenty of cellular damage, which obviously made everything a lot more painful, but probably also faster. If all DNA just vanished, cell replication would stop. I think the zombie phase could last surprisingly long.

[-] polotype@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 months ago

Would you have bleach for my eyeballs by any chance ?

[-] Pudutr0n@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

yeah but that's not only dna damage.

[-] MotoAsh@piefed.social 1 points 4 months ago

It only takes DNA damage. If your cells cannot reproduce, you are doomed to die nearly the same way.

this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2026

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