What are these blue DNA strands?

[TheFinkinator]

So at the end of the DNA stream in the Animus, after the "final" memory that looks like that weird treasure they pulled out of the Ark, there is a regualr sized strand of DNA memory that is blue, and labeled extra memories or something like that. Every time I find a hidden flag, it shows my flag percentage and points to what looks like a strand of blue DNA. I assume that these are the same blue DNA strands, and finding all the flags in an area (or doing some other complicated missions) will unlock that missions blue memory, and I can go and do them as some kind of bonus missions at the end of the game. Is that about right? or do I have to fill in the ENTIRE blue memory block (find every flag in the whole game) to get any bonus missions? or is there even any bonus missions to play?

Im in Damascus now, and there were two blue DNA strands at the end of the current memory block. Being both the heroic and explorative type in these type of games, I immediately set out to both find all the viewpoints in the area and save all the civillians. as I saved the last person and found the last viewpoint, the two blue strands lit up, similar to the way the white strands light up when I finish that mission or memory. So it looks like those blues just represented the optional missions of exploring and saving, and after I did that it didnt offer me any reward other than the acknowledgement of completion. so now im starting to wonder if the blues at the end of the animus are going to work the same way. Like im going to break my back finding all 100 flags in Damascus or the Kingdom just to get a "good job" and a blue light on the screen.

TL;DR

Can someone explain what all the blue DNA strands mean, and which ones if any unlock extra missions or rewards?

[BloodyMares]

They don't unlock anything. These strands are simply there for you to check how many collectibles you are missing. And when you complete a set of collectibles (flags or templars), a strand will just glow as a complete memory. That's all.

[TheFinkinator]

Originally posted by BloodyMares:

They don't unlock anything. These strands are simply there for you to check how many collectibles you are missing. And when you complete a set of collectibles (flags or templars), a strand will just glow as a complete memory. That's all.

Well alright then. The title below that section of DNA is kind of misleading then. And finding 100 flags in places as huge as Damascus or as huge and hostile a the Kingdom is pretty obscene if you get no reward or bonuses from it. I mean if not a bonus mission then at least a secret weapon or special skill or something. jeez.