Epigenetics ...

I was quite amazed when I first discovered the existence of such wonderful science happening in the very cells of my own body.

It is amazing because of what it is. I can't believe that we are not taught this at school.

Epigenetics - could hold the key to many unanswered questions in science, particularly the science of diseases.

So what is it? 

Epigenetics is the mechanism that is beginning to explain we are not just a product of nucleotides sequenced together. Genes can be switched on and off through different environmental factors.

This explains why identical twins - with the exact same DNA - suffer from different diseases and at different points in life.

I am reading Tim Spector's 'Identically Different' for the second time - it's really interesting. I'll come back and discuss some really interesting issues raised in there.  

Keeping up the Olympic Spirit!!!

Okay many of my pedantic friends will tell me that I don't need the 3 exclamation marks for the title. Honestly, I'm just so excited after the Olympics and for sport in general and I can't hide it. Really.

I'm sure there is not a single soul in this country who has not been affected by the Olympics - I mean come on, when are people going to talk about something other than the weather for casual talk?

That's one for a change.
Anyway - yep the positives of the Olympics have been highlighted enough for the media - i don't need to go on about it. however this instance has drawn my attention to gene doping.

I hadn't even heard of the idea before this Olympics. It's shook me to the core. No exaggerations.

Let me give you some background details:
So gene doping is essentially doping by manipulating your genes in particular the genes that are going to enhance your body's performance e.g. the EPO gene that controls red blood cell production. By adding a more enhanced version of the gene, you get more RBC production et voilà more endurance because you can carry more oxygen, hence more aerobic respiration for energy.

This sounds cool.

But, unfortunately this is not allowed. The WADA (world anti-doping agency) are now running genetic tests to see if people are using this. Some people get out of this, I mean how small are genes and how complex are they? So, its not easy to see if you've faltered.

By not using this all that will happen is maybe losing out on a Gold medal (I've heard that losing a gold to a silver is the most disappointing). However, by playing with genes - unmarked territory - you are playing with not only your genes that could potentially develop mutations and then  into cancers - but also if these genes are passed onto future generations we don't know yet what the effects will be.

Should we risk affecting future generations for a gold medal?

Put into perspective that sounds silly doesn't it?

Mitochondria: The Power House!

I had recently read the book 'The Seven Daughter's of Eve' by Bryan Sykes. Brilliantly written book about a fascinating way to trace back to your mitochondrial ancestors.
Put into the book it seems so simple you wonder why nobody thought of it before. To be fair DNA is relatively young and mitochondrial DNA even more so. It makes sense to see why people have been preoccupied with DNA for all this time.

So mitochondria - silent yet ever confident. Our whole lives depend on it.

It took me by surprise when I read a recent article on a genetic disease affecting the mitochondrial DNA. This meaning that it can only be passed on from mother to child and if she has a daughter from her daughter to  her children and so on and so forth.

It's called Leigh's Disease.

It is a disease that affects the brain and the nervous system and leads to death in early childhood.

Now what I'm trying to get at is the ethical issues behind this scenario. If parents affected by this are having to watch their children suffer and die is that fair?
It introduces a new case of 'Three parent IVF' where as well as the sperm and egg from the parents a third donor parent with DNA without the disease alleles can be included.

This seems revolutionary until we start asking questions such as:
Does the third person donating the "right" DNA have any right to the child? Can they claim the fact that they gave the child a disease free life? Could they abuse this?

What if the third party is somebody the parents already know? Would that cause tension between the parents later on in life?
Would the child know that they had their faulty genes corrected by someone else? If so, in what way would the child regard the donor? Would it affect their relationship?

Lets leave the idea of the couple and the child, should scientists even be tampering with something such as genetics when they themselves do not fully understand it?

On the other hand:
These parents just want their child to live. The whole thing with manipulating genes for designer babies- really - it seems quite silly when all you want is to stop them from suffering and to see them growing up.

I found this really interesting, check it out here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19648992

Does being born from two different races prove to be beneficial?

Sorry I haven't been able to write so often but hey that's the busy life of a science girl...

So I happened to stumble upon this fascinating piece of research by just watching TV. Hmm...
Well, this was a Documentary showing that when  people are mixed race there are advantages in terms of health,   physical prowess, resistance to diseases, and certain talents and skills very out of the ordinary.

This is a topic that many scientists have evaded for many years because of its sensitive nature. However, it is interesting because if people who have very different genes mix - and it is an advantage for the human population shouldn't we be encouraged to mix our genes more?