Monday, March 13, 2006

Epigenetics

We always knew it was a mix of what you were born with and the life you lived: genetics and environment. In a world of perpetual change, of nature's endless recycling of everything, how could there be any absolutes? It turns out that even our DNA is not absolute. Our genes have switches that respond to our living in the world and in turn affect our lives, their unfolding. If we didn't have philosophical underpinnings, a knowing that we're born with certain predispositions but that our environment shapes much of what emerges, would our epigenetic scientists have known what to look for? This is exciting research; I was riveted: even when an environment has not been conducive, a smoker's lungs, toxic metals in the water system, and there is disease, it might still be possible to heal the person by fixing the genetic response to the maladaptation. To go in and 'fix the operating system.' Turning back on the gene switch that stops tumor growth, thereby preventing metastasis. Medical science appears more and more miraculous. One hopes the techniques are used wisely and not ever for a eugenic agenda...

2 comments:

  1. You've inspired me to buy a remaindered book in the university bookshop about the interplay of genetics and environment - a subject on which I feel passionately and know very little of the evidence. I'll get back to you :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Medical science is incredible~ discoveries coming fast & furiously it seems. After I posted this I read a short article on how nano technology was used to repair a torn optic nerve in rats, which was not only successful, tissue grew back, but neurons started to grow back too & the rats indicated 'sight' again (by turning towards a light, and some other simple tests), though more slowly than before. It boggles the mind, how medically orchestrated and cybernetic 'we' will be in the future!

    ReplyDelete

Woman with Flowers 7.1

(7th sketch in series, first iteration of this one) Woman with Flowers  Flowers, props  upholding the woman. The flowers, fragrant, imaginar...