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The Thread Of Life (Dunedin, Otago) Mystery Cache

Hidden : 11/27/2011
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   large (large)

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Geocache Description:

Have you ever wondered whether geocaching is in your DNA? And how it affects your life?

The terrain of this experiment is not hazardous, but it is definitely a bit scrambly. It would be much more pleasant on a dry day. Watch out for the occasional rogue lawyer!

Determination and resilience will ensure you achieve your aim... or maybe you just need good luck, good looks and knowing the right people?

[NB: We try to check the final laboratory regularly, but life can get in the way of geocaching... So, you may want to email the CO before you try this experiment (especially if you are from outside Dunedin). We will be happy to do a Health and Safety check to make sure you get a proper classical education.]



Not long ago, we were up at the Signal Hill Monument looking at The Thread Of Life statue.

That started a discussion about the evolutionary benefits of being able to find containers in interesting spots. Surely our ancestors would have used the same skills to unearth the plumpest roots, or catch lizards hidden under rocks? Is it true that "Geocaching is in our DNA"?

We decided to find out just what was in the DNA of a random Dunedin cacher. At the Centennial Memorial Cleanup event, we sneakily swabbed the spigot of an unattended drink bottle, and sent the sample to a DNA testing laboratory.

Unfortunately, the laboratory refused to analyse the sample. Their report said:

"We enclose a printout of the DNA fragments obtained from the sample you sent us. We regret to inform you that the fee you paid does not cover the costs of interpreting such deviant and misspelt genetic material. Please do not waste our time further."

We do hope you will help us with the interminably tedious job of decodoning this DNA. Is there a jinx on the Geochecker? What have The Fates got in store for this geocacher?





ACG – CAC – GAG – TAA – TGG – GCC – TAT – TAG – ATC – AAC – TGA – ATA – TCT – TGA – GCT – ACT – TAG – TTT – GAG – AAT – TGC – GAA – TAA – TGT – CAG – CGG – AAT – GAG – CGT – TGA – TGC – CGC – CAG – TCC – AGT – TAA – TGG – ATC – AGA – GAA – TGA – GCC – ACC – TGA – TCT – TAA – TTT – ATT – TTC – ACG – TAT – CAA – AAC – GAA – TAG – CCT – CAA – ATA – AAT – ACT – TAG – TTC – CAG – GTA – CGG – TAA – GAA – ATA – GGG - CAC – ACT - TAG – TTT – CAG – GTG – AGA – TAA – GAA – TGA – ACC – CAT – ATA – AGG – ACT – TAT – ACG – TGG – CAG – TAG – CCC – CAA – ATC – AAT – ACT – TAA – AAC – ATT – AAT – GAG – TAG – ACC – CAT – CGA – GAA – GAG - TGA - TCT – GAA – GTC – GAG – AAT – TAA – ATG – ATC – AAC – GTA – ACG – GAG – TCC – TAG



GGG – CAG – TAA – GAT – CAA – TGG – AAC – TGA – CAG – CCC – GAG – AAT – TAG – TCC – CCG – GTG – CGC – TGA – GCT – AAC – GAT – TAA – TTT – ATT – AAC – GAC – TGA – TAT – CAA – GTG – CGG – TGA – TTC – GCC – ATG – ATC – CTT – TAC – TAG – ACA – CGC – GAG – GAA – TAA



GAA – GCT – TCG – ACC – TGA – CAG – AAT – GAG – TAA – CAT – GTA – AAC – GAC – AGA – GAA – GAT – TAG – GCC – AAC – GAT – TAA – AGT – GAG – GTT – GAA – AAC – ACC – TAT – TGA – GAT – GAA – GGC – AGG – GAG – GAA – TCT – TAA – ACG – CAC – ATA – AGG – ACA – TAC – ACC – CAT – AGA – GAG – GAA – TAG – CCG – CAG – ATC – AAC – ACT – TGA – AAT – CAA – GTG – GGA – CAT – ACA – TAA – TTC – CAG – GTC – AGA – TAG – AAC – CAG – GTT – GGG – CAC – ACG – TAA – ATG – ATC – AAC – GTT – ACT – GAA – AGT – TAG



TTC – ATC – AAC – GAC – TAG – TAC – CAG – GTG – CGG – TGA – CGC – CAA – CAG – ACT – TCT – TAA



TCT – CAA – GTT – ACT – CAT – TAA – TTT – CAG – GTC – CGT – ACT – TAC – TTC – ATT – GTA – GAA – TAG – GAT – GAA – GGT – CGC – GAG – GAA – TCC – TGA – TTT – ATC – TTC – ACG – TAT – CAA – AAT – GAA – TGA – CCT – CAG – ATA – AAC – ACC – TAG – TTC – CAA – GTT – CGA – TAA – ACA – TGG – CAA – TGA – AAT – ATT – AAC – GAG – TAG – ATG – ATA – AAT – GTC – ACG – GAG – AGT – TGA




Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Puzzle, explicit, so don't look before you've given it a go] Purpx bhg gur "QAN grfgvat ynobengbel" yvax. Fgvyy pna'g qrpbqba vg? Ebg-zvahf-1 pbqrq, fb O orpbzrf N: Dvsbmzozobwbs-wg-T. Va rkgerzvf, cyrnfr rznvy hf!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)