article_snippet: DNA molecules extracted from fish sperm is being used to develop new types of flame retardant materials.
article_snippet: Scientists recently discovered that DNA is highly resistant to fire.
article_snippet: Cotton layered with DNA molecules resists burning as the genetic material forms a ceramic-like coating over the fabric, shown in the bottom image in the photograph above, while untreated cotton will burn readily (top)
article_snippet: Researchers behind the work believe DNA could provide a natural and environmentally-friendly way of protecting fabrics from fire.
article_snippet: he added that DNA could be particularly useful as a way of making textiles flame retardant.
article_snippet: Writing in the journal Polymer, he and he colleagues said: 'he and his colleagues have explored its flame retardant activity by applying as a surface coating on cotton fabrics and observed that on exposure to heat, the DNA was able to form a foamed char on the surface of the fabric. '
article_snippet: DNA has proven to be an efficient renewable, natural flame suppressant and retardant, due to its intrinsic intumescent features.'
article_snippet: Professor Malucelli and his colleagues found that layers of DNA applied to cotton could reduce the amount of heat released by fire by 40 per cent and limits the availability of oxygen to the flames.
article_snippet: Researchers behind the work believe DNA could provide a natural and environmentally-friendly way of protecting fabrics from fire.
article_snippet: The images above show cotton coated with DNA before burning (b and c) and after cotton coated with DNA has burned (d and e).
article_snippet: the DNA release water also combines with phosphoric acid created from the phosphate groups that form part of the backbone of the DNA molecule to create a flame retardant residue.
article_snippet: Nitrogen in each of the DNA bases also form ammonia when heated - another flame retardant.
article_snippet: Dr Jenny Alongi, a researcher also at the Polytechnic University of Turin who has been working on the study with Professor Malucelli, said DNA appeared to become intumescent at relatively low temperatures compared to other fire retardant materials.
article_snippet: Sperm cells, shown above approaching an egg, could provide DNA for use in future flame retardant materials .
article_snippet: She said: 'This may be the reason for the DNA high fire retardant effectiveness particularly when DNA is layered onto polymer surface. '
article_snippet: Thus, the fire protection built by DNA decomposition can withstand fire exposure for longer time than traditional intumescent fire retardants.'
article_snippet: The researchers also recently found that some proteins found in biological cells have similar fire resistant  properties - raising the prospect of a new generation of biological flame retardants.
highlights_snippet: Researchers at the Polytechnic University of Turin are using DNA extracted from herring sperm cells to develop new types of flame retardant materials .
  
highlights_snippet: Researchers at the Polytechnic University of Turin found DNA forms a protective coating when heated that resists fire .
  
highlights_snippet: Scientists believe DNA could create environmentally-friendly flame retardants .
  