Posted on 01/21/2006 7:10:20 PM PST by djf
Folks get WAAAY to bent around here. Sure, we have weakened our immune systems and gene pool over time. But, we have also dramitically improved it in many ways. (Size, looks - and i'm sure there's more I am not thinking of (it IS 4:26AM after all). It just is. No judgement. And, who knows where the next "great" mutation might come from. Could be the child of Down's Syndrome kids that contain cancer-resistance.
You are certainly welcome.
Since they have decoded most of the genomes and figured out the major roles of proteins, we are basically at a completely new level in biology.
And let us not forget for an instant the role of computers. Hundreds of thousands of studies can be compared and contrasted in seconds. Hundreds of environmental and genetic variables can be accounted for.
I will turn 52 this year. And from my personal research, I've concluded it would not at all be unusual for a person to be able to live a healthy, vigorous life into two centuries or so.
But if you wait till you're in your mid 30's, it's already too late. Dozens of the abstracts and studies I've read say things like "But the effect slows down in the mid twenties..." or "The body can't metabolize X very well after the mid twenties..."
So, friend, if you are still a young 'un, get your vitamin C. Exercise. Get your Folic acid (the whole cholesterol stuff is BS, it is a lack of folates that causes the damage). Vitamin D has been found to be one of the most important steroids in the human body, it keeps the cells in line and regulates protein synthesis.
Don't smoke. I started 30 years ago, she was a full figured blonde, I have to admit if I died five minutes from now, she was STILL worth it!
;-)
Good luck.
Wonderful news....like the discovery of the mutated gene that kept people in that English town from catching the plague in the 1600's. (That particular genetic mutation is proving valuable in the fight against AIDS.)
That's the Delta-32 mutation I mentioned in post 11.
Another interesting thing they found had to do with the sleep/wake cycle. There is some family, I think it's in Albania, where almost all of them are incurable insomniacs. They studied them and found something in their blood chemistry, and from there they were able to figure out the sleep/wake cycle.
There are two hormones in the body. As the level of one drops, it causes the level of the first to drop even more. Then you wake up. As the level of the second rises to a critical point, it causes the level of the second to start up again. Then you sleep. It was fascinating.
Biology is extraordinary. Whether we are here because God took an active role, or because of 4 BILLION years of triumphs and mistakes, we ended up the same. We are here.
Alpha and Omega.
So much for all mutations being detrimental...
Alfa Romeo placemark
Extending life spans need not necessarily break the SS system if it means people work longer before they retire.
The SS system is already broke. There is no "Trust Fund". There are no assets. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are almost defunct. GM and GE are toast, somebody convinced them they should be banks instead of manufacterers.
So what's left? But a government bond? Put your money into a 401k at Bank of America? You haven't seen a lowering in the debt limit for more than a decade.
I guess you are proposing that nobody be able to save anything, they will work till the day they die, and it's all for the "chilrun"
This family lineage has been well reported since the 1980s. Thanks for the post about the possible treatment.
Everyone else but "they."
This happened before with a man's pancreas.
He had a mutation that was a valuable treatment.
The catch is WHO OWNS THE PATENT RIGHT ON YOUR OWN DNA?
The pancreas man lost his case to own his own DNA because the court ruled the treatment was distant enough from the original DNA. (this was back in the 80's and I don't have the appeal citation)
My First Wife found this and printed it out for me...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-01-08-heart-disease-cover_x.htm
True enough, good example.
If we keep intervening with treatments of diseases then we will end up having people who WILL start being allergic to some, many then all of those medicines. Nature will keep inventing diseases that will keep being immune to the cures.
One sees that with the ever-changing chamelon-like AIDS virus. They mutate right under the microscope while a medication is being administered to kill them. Amazing things viruses. They can't be killed apparently, only allowed to die natural deaths while the patient manages to survive them.
I imagine that one day in the future there will first be screening for diseases and parents will have to choose to live with them or not. Unfortunately, abortion on demand for the first trimester will still be around.
Then, most probably there will come a time when parents might be able to do corrective gene therapy, perhaps to correct some horrible diseases (Alzheimer, strokes, etc.). That will be good.
There will STILL be diseases acquired by lifestyle. Those will still be subject to the same natural "rules" above, as to the efficacy of an individual's immune system.
Then, I imagine someday parents will be able to choose such things as eye/hair color, then ... other things, such as a disease free baby and perhaps even more esoteric choices.
The best thing would be to inherit or genetically implant the BEST immune system a human can have.
Nature did that already with the likes of those people I mentioned, with NATURALLY ultra-superior immune systems. Then, we interrupted with superior medicine, allowing more and more "inferior" immune systems to survive, thrive and pass along the weaker and weaker genes and immune systems, saving people with medication, implants, transplants and devices.
We COULD go the bionic route too, of course. Then parts would be bought and paid for .... naturally, either by the wealthy, middle class, or GIVEN to the poor, compliments of the tax payer.
Nothing changes, does it?
My personal choice would be to have the naturally superior immune system....and bionic legs, eyes, hearing, teeth and hair. Well, nice skin would be nice to have too. Lol. Can you IMAGINE the genetic mess we WILL get ourselves into? Boggles the mind.
I think you are right about the "mutation."
It is NO mutation. It's the way it ought to be and the way we probably were several thousand years ago when we all had to have GANGBUSTER immune systems to get into our twenties.
I think that we've forgotten what good immune systems are because we now rely 100% on medicine and surgery.
I also probably would not have made it. I had bronchitis at 18 months, strept throat at 10. There was no medication for either but warm weather (Arizona) took care of the former and 6 weeks in bed took care of the latter.
At 35 I got strept throat again and I was out of bed in 3 days. At 45 I got bronchitis again -- and needed rest, rest and rest as there is still no medication to kill off the present germs, only the incipient ones. Rest, that is, my own immune system had to deal with the present germs.
If I had had the superior immune system I wouldn't have gotten either. My family had serious asthma problems -- thus the bronchitis.
I have type II diabetes on both sides.....lifestyle diabetes. My blood sugar is 95--that scared me fit. :o)
My sister passed because of a brain aneurysm...genetic fault, passed on by a paternal grandmother who also died too early from the same thing. Some things nature won't forgive.
I call BS!
It's like how Pharm Companies try to get the FDA to regulate Natural Vitamins and Minerals, and to restrict their marketing and availability, while their own "engineered" versions are mass marketed and patented.
See, you can't patent a naturally occurring product like this Lipoprotein, so you "bioengineer" a version so you can gain exclusivity on marketing and sales, as well as a Patent. Whatever "change" was made to call this a bioengineered product might actually create side-effects that are not seen until long-term use...and then it's too late.
Having been a Pharm Chemist I know what I speak of.
I don't have much faith in the "bioengineered" version...nauture's version 1.0 in almost all cases is the better one, rather than the Human Engineered version X.
these people eat a lot of garlic, and olive oil. that may have something to do with it too.
You can both see my post #95 for our genetic future. You see, Appalled, I have done some "thinking through." It never hurts to do that, even though you think it HAS to be "crap." Your tunnel vision doesn't seem to see much past three inches in front of your nose.
This IS a discussion forum. It doesn't hurt to discuss. Just words on a page.
Well said, Publius.
Appalled COULD also plug his ears and sing "Lady of Spain."
To Publius:
This genetic stuff is huge. It WILL be the mess of the future and oh, what a mess.
I can already HEAR the "gene advocates" whining, barking and pompously prosing on about "gene rights" for the poor and homeless.
Most of those poor/homeless problems WILL be lifestyle problems but noooooo, that won't be GOOD ENOUGH for the raving, maniac advocates. They will want immune systems to handle stupid, self-inflicted, self-destructive lifestyles. "Build our poor a better immune system; it's their RIGHT as American citizens!!!"
Ah, race cards, genetic bigotry and racism, anti-Semitic genetics, anti-Muslim/Islam/Arab genetics, feminist genetics, leftist, liberal genetics, gene lawyers, gene advocacy groups. The ACLU will still be around, annoying just about everyone with their self-righteous, almost-always-wrong view of the world.
NOTHING will change with us, will it? Lol. I can just hear it now.
Huh? Have you been reading ANY of this?
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