Take it easy on the personal trauma, son, as this isn't about anyone's personal recollection of a heart attack but rather it's your genetic memory of it. Today's magic scientist word is epigenetic since this one leaves Gregor Mendel swamped in sweet peas and goes off into a whole new world of epistemological endeavor. (Science Daily: Memory of a heart attack is stored in our genes)
Our general thinking of DNA is all we need is the DNA molecule which defines us plus a thousand monkeys to type and eventually if we make enough copies of that molecule then I'm here. It's me in my uniquely unique self.
But, no so fast, Bat Masterson, since the DNA modifies itself. That one-size-fits-all thinking doesn't work when the DNA changes from what it was when we were back being innocent and formless eggs. In the case of the heart attack, epigenetic changes are 'remembered' and this is where things become a tad scientifically murky.
The results of the study showed that there are many epigenetic changes in individuals who had experienced a heart attack. Several of these changes are in genes that are linked to cardiovascular disease. However it was not possible to determine whether these differences had contributed to the development of the disease, or if they live on as a memory of gene activation associated with the heart attack.
- Science Daily
We know genes turn on and off to do whatever functions they do but we didn't know there was any 'recollection' of it in the genetic material. This revelation moves our DNA away from being a static concept which looks the same at birth as it will at death. The DNA definitely changes and these so-called epigenetic changes may result in accumulation of deleterious effects.
Note: scientists typically note the deleterious effects more ominously and that's an excellent indication insofar as it gives them focus toward something which can be addressed and possibly ameliorated.
There seems to be some general thinking of, oh, science is so slow and, dayum, it didn't even cure cancer yet but the fact of it reveals there's immense research taking place and that's even with the worst possible budgetary environment and the greatest hostility toward increases in research unless it's profit-driven.
In fact there's still a tremendous amount of research being done simply because that's what scientists do. Finding another Martin Shkreli is easy but finding a Jonas Salk is just a wee bit more difficult.
Note: as a reminder, Jonas Salk took no royalties for his polio vaccine. There was a time of greater nobility in America and he was emblematic of it.
Our general thinking of DNA is all we need is the DNA molecule which defines us plus a thousand monkeys to type and eventually if we make enough copies of that molecule then I'm here. It's me in my uniquely unique self.
But, no so fast, Bat Masterson, since the DNA modifies itself. That one-size-fits-all thinking doesn't work when the DNA changes from what it was when we were back being innocent and formless eggs. In the case of the heart attack, epigenetic changes are 'remembered' and this is where things become a tad scientifically murky.
The results of the study showed that there are many epigenetic changes in individuals who had experienced a heart attack. Several of these changes are in genes that are linked to cardiovascular disease. However it was not possible to determine whether these differences had contributed to the development of the disease, or if they live on as a memory of gene activation associated with the heart attack.
- Science Daily
We know genes turn on and off to do whatever functions they do but we didn't know there was any 'recollection' of it in the genetic material. This revelation moves our DNA away from being a static concept which looks the same at birth as it will at death. The DNA definitely changes and these so-called epigenetic changes may result in accumulation of deleterious effects.
Note: scientists typically note the deleterious effects more ominously and that's an excellent indication insofar as it gives them focus toward something which can be addressed and possibly ameliorated.
There seems to be some general thinking of, oh, science is so slow and, dayum, it didn't even cure cancer yet but the fact of it reveals there's immense research taking place and that's even with the worst possible budgetary environment and the greatest hostility toward increases in research unless it's profit-driven.
In fact there's still a tremendous amount of research being done simply because that's what scientists do. Finding another Martin Shkreli is easy but finding a Jonas Salk is just a wee bit more difficult.
Note: as a reminder, Jonas Salk took no royalties for his polio vaccine. There was a time of greater nobility in America and he was emblematic of it.
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