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The Geocaching Gene Mystery Cache

Hidden : 11/23/2018
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


The cache is not located at the posted coordinates (and I would highly recommend that you don't dawdle there)! Also, please note that the cache container is pretty small, so BYOP and maybe a pair of tweezers.

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I was recently teaching a group of first year university students about DNA amplification, and it got me thinking: "I wonder if I could amplify the gene responsible for making someone a geocacher?". After much research and several failed attempts, I finally got promising results!

I used the following two primers in my master mix:
Forward: 5’ GGTACTCGGA 3’
Reverse: 3’ CATGAATCCG 5’

I've attached a printout of the DNA segment I was interested in analysing, including the newly discovered "Geocaching Gene". Hmm... fascinating... the gene sequence also gives the location of a new cache! Time to go hunting!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Puzzle] Erzrzore gung QAN vf qbhoyr-fgenaqrq, naq nyjnlf ernq sebz gur 5’ gb 3’ raq. [Puzzle] Gvzr gb trg gb gur “ebbg” bs gur ceboyrz! [Cache] Ubcrshyyl lbh vaurevgrq n gnyy trar gbb!

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)