The idea that the genome is not that useful to medicine ( ie health) is the basis of our website. As we know genes are easily programmable via iPS & most chronic diseases like Parkinson’s are targeted via population-sampling.
Population-sampling is able to detect biochemical mechanisms linked to genes. Basically, the gene-variants are invisible unless you find the mechanism so, instead of the genome having information, research has actually turned things around & it’s the mechanisms supply useful information. Reason being genes don’t exist in isolation but inside a vastly complicated organic environment. Now, it seems to me you could suggest a trend away from genetics here & it was pretty interesting to see an article in that cutting-edge journal Time magazine to that effect! ‘Epigenomes’ are the body’s natural programmers & so vastly more useful than the genome. (See prev ‘what info is in ESCs?‘)
The only problem is they’re vastly more complicated! Time refers to a ‘pattern’ of programming, of switching genes ‘on’ & ‘off’ implicated in disease or health studies. The upshot is behaviour & environment are critically linked to health & affect the health of the next-gen (via ‘switching’ transmitted over generations by the action of the epigenome). Now, this is pretty interesting in that behaviour can influence genes – once you know that it has to be more vital to act healthily than to look at genes as some sort of resource.
In essence, this is common sense. You eat healthy, exercise, step-out into the sunlight & perform the actions human beings naturally do regardless of technology. Time refers to this as a paradigm which is pretty cool seeing as it means ‘pattern’. Now, this is the diametrical opposite of transhumanism which (in case you need reminding) dreams of ‘merging’ human with technology to improve our chances of survival – see various postings.
They are saying, in effect, expertise can transform society but the trend is actually the opposite way round. Human health is pretty vital & is down to our behaviour & environment. Basically, ‘environment’ is also something that makes us feel at ease & could be said to cover cityscapes & the whole jamboree – see prev example here - the society we stroll around in. Actually, our website sort of follows that trend by prioritizing ‘natural vigor’ as the main criterion for health.
Tags: epigenomes, ESC, genes, transients
