Firstly it has been many decades since the computer pioneer ,
Alan . Turing was a reluctant student of a descendant of
Charles Darwin .

The Genome is starting to be treated as an iterative entity.
Large 'blocks' of the genome can be switched on and off at
particular times and states.
This process is internal and external to the nucleus of the
cell .
Using this approach reprogramming and differentiation can be
controlled more effectively .

To effect reprogramming to the embryonic state viruses and
nanotubes have been used to introduce key regulators into
the nucleus of adult cells , amoungst these the Oct molecule .
The choice of starting cell , for reprogramming , appears to
be important ; presently cells from areas involved in reproduction
are being examined , these aren't necessarily of an embryonic
type .
There is also ongoing research , by a Howard Hughes investigator ,
into the processes involved in the reprogramming of reproductive
cells to their primitive state appropriate for error free
reproduction .
iRNA is being used in this study , a possible improvement over
the use of nanotubes and hopefully an alternative to the use of
viruses .
Understanding this mechanism might give some insight into why
some children are born with cancer , one valid school of thought
is that viruses can become an integral part of the adult genome
and in some instances find expression in offspring .

The ability of the Genome might be appreciated when we consider
the example of photosynthesis , this is an efficient quantum
mechanical pathway , determined through the interaction of a simple
plant genome with the environment.
Scientists are still attempting to tease out the details of
this pathway .