Are Genes Our Destiny????

[HysteryDiagnosis]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110916152401.htm


Generational inheritance of DNA methylation. Although spontaneous rates of genetic mutations are well understood, the rates of epigenetic variation in DNA methylation have remained a mystery until now. Using the plant Arabidopsis thaliana (depicted in the center), generational variation in DNA methylation was identified in five lineages separated by 30 generations of growth as indicated by the methylated pink Cs and the unmethylated green Cs. (Credit: Concept/artwork/ image design: Robert Schmitz, Joseph R. Ecker, Salk Institute for Biological Studies)


Are Genes Our Destiny? Scientists Discover 'Hidden' Code in DNA Evolves More Rapidly Than Genetic Code

ScienceDaily (Sep. 16, 2011) — A "hidden" code linked to the DNA of plants allows them to develop and pass down new biological traits far more rapidly than previously thought, according to the findings of a groundbreaking study by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

ON EDIT TO ADD:
"Our study shows that it's not all in the genes," said Joseph Ecker, a professor in Salk's Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, who led the research team. "We found that these plants have an epigenetic code that's more flexible and influential than we imagined. There is clearly a component of heritability that we don't fully understand. It's possible that we humans have a similarly active epigenetic mechanism that controls our biological characteristics and gets passed down to our children. "

[Arctic Dave]

1. Weird, I just happen to be reading, "Brave New World".

Coincidence? You, decide.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Synchronicity perhaps. My feelings are that the quantum leap will be triggered by

events external to our planet, i.e. some sort of galactic/cosmic event. Call it rapture, call it epigenetic kick in the ass, call it whatever but I think it could happen almost overnight.

Suddenly the idea of X-Men doesn't seem so fanciful.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110916152401.htm

Ecker said the results of the study provide some of the first evidence that the epigenetic code can be rewritten quickly and to dramatic effect. "This means that genes are not destiny," he said. "If we are anything like these plants, our epigenome may also undergo relatively rapid spontaneous change that could have a powerful influence on our biological traits."

Now that they have shown the extent to which spontaneous epigenetic mutations occur, the Salk researchers plan to unravel the biochemical mechanisms that allow these changes to arise and get passed from one generation to the next.

[Arctic Dave]

3. If we do go "X-men, I'm sure it will be available to those who can pay.

Another way for the haves to keep what they got and the have-nots to serve.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. If it happens it won't be in anyone's control. It will just happen, or not. n/t

[Arctic Dave]

5. Well it does seem they are trying learn the sequencing for a reason.

Why would they do that if they aren't interested in managing it? Sounds like a scifi edition of eugenics(?). I would guess that someone would be interested in becoming "super human".

[saras]

6. Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.

The entire concept "destiny" is best left to religion. It has no place in science.

On the other hand, if DNA really is self-modifying (i.e. Lysenko's concept was right and Darwin's wrong, even though Darwin got the details right and Lysenko failed miserably there) - then what I want to know is whether it is powerful enough to be Turing-machine equivalent.

Another thought - this discovery invalidates (as if it needed ANOTHER invalidation) the idea that genes only do one thing, and the corollary that we can therefore go about snipping them out and "fixing" them without fear of unintended consequences.

[drokhole]

7. Great book that links the matter with diet...

...and how we are fucking up our genes royally by eating these overly processed, "one molecule away from plastic" "foods":



Deep Nutrition

Even foods we might consider healthy - fruits and veggies - are becoming more and more nutrient deficient because of deficiencies in the soil from over-farming and the use of petrochemical pesticides/herbicides (not to mention who knows what the fuck the GMO crops that line the produce section are doing to our genetic makeup). That goes the same for meats - healthy when from grass fed, pasture raised animals (though, even that grass is becoming less nutrient dense), but horrible (nutrient deficient and often times disease laden) when it comes from factory farmed, corn/soy feed-fed animals. Couple that with the steady-state of pollution in the atmosphere (that also comes down/waters the crops in rain), and the deteriorating state of our water supply, and we are stacking the deck big-time against any beneficial (evolutionary-wise) epigentics.

Anyway, I'll cut the rant short there. The book, though, is great, and well worth the purchase.