2 Next
Topic: Genetic manipulation/engineering. Thoughts?
mightymoe's photo
Sun 08/13/17 09:04 AM

Wow, Farming has really changed since my time.
I was in VoAg and FFA in high school and last time I visited those programs have been discontinued there. Even the green house has been torn down.

Still, I don't believe the genetics industry is bad just because Monsanto has an agenda. Kinda like guns don't kill people. The guns are not bad, what is bad is what people do with them.

People are stigmatized by GMO fears. Not all GMOs are bad. Some are beneficial. As a species, humans are fast approaching a population that is impossible to maintain by natural food production. GMOs are not going to go away.


agreed, monsanto demonized it for profits, instead of a viable food source for the world over...

no photo
Sun 08/13/17 03:20 PM
And so we have the future.

DiminishedConcern's photo
Sat 11/04/17 02:57 AM
Your genome is altered on a daily basis over 150k mutations occur in a person's lifespan. In contrast to your entire genome this is a paltry 2% at best and mostly erroneous and non beneficial. Viruses evolve at a much higher rate and won't stop simply due to anyone's morality. In fact they are so efficient we currently use them to alter genes. Genetic manipulation is simply taking control measures of adaptation these otherwise lengthy processes are shortened into a beneficial timeframe.

Tom4Uhere's photo
Sat 11/04/17 11:05 AM

Your genome is altered on a daily basis over 150k mutations occur in a person's lifespan. In contrast to your entire genome this is a paltry 2% at best and mostly erroneous and non beneficial. Viruses evolve at a much higher rate and won't stop simply due to anyone's morality. In fact they are so efficient we currently use them to alter genes. Genetic manipulation is simply taking control measures of adaptation these otherwise lengthy processes are shortened into a beneficial timeframe.

Good Point

Nano-biology is advancing in leaps and pounds. Seems there is always a NEWS article that tells of new drug delivery systems. Until nano-technology advances to the point of assemblers we will use natural organics to deliver "cures".

Role Of Nanotechnology In New Drug Delivery Systems
http://www.ijddr.in/drug-development/role-of-nanotechnology-in-new-drug-delivery-systems.php?aid=5666

We have recently seen the launch of the first nanodelivery system (DOXIL; Ortho-Biotec), a reformulated version of the anticancer agent doxorubicin. Here the drug is encased within polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated liposomes less than 200nm in diameter. Because of the sustained release of the drug from the liposome and its long circulation time from the “stealth” ability conferred by the PEG, intravenous treatment is only required every four weeks. The use of PEG to mask a drug from our natural defences has also been used for antibody based therapeutics.

Nano-materials for Gene Therapy: An Efficient Way in Overcoming Challenges of Gene Delivery
http://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/nanomaterials-for-gene-therapy-an-efficient-way-in-overcomingchallenges-of-gene-delivery-2155-6210-1000195.php?aid=67363

different types of biocompatible nanoparticles have been used to deliver genes intended for gene therapy to overcome the disadvantages encountered with the traditional methods used for genetic material delivery. In this review we will shed the light on the types of nanoparticles that have been used to deliver genes intended for gene therapy

http://www.cancer.gov/sites/ocnr/cancer-nanotechnology/treatment

The value of nanomaterial-based delivery has become apparent for new types of therapeutics such as those using nucleic acids, which are highly unstable in systemic circulation and sensitive to degradation. These include DNA and RNA-based genetic therapeutics such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs). Gene silencing therapeutics, siRNAs, have been reported to have significantly extended half-lives when delivered either encapsulated or conjugated to the surface of nanoparticles. These therapeutics are used in many cases to target ‘undruggable’ cancer proteins. Additionally, the increased stability of genetic therapies delivered by nanocarriers, and often combined with controlled release, has been shown to prolong their effects.

Tom4Uhere's photo
Sat 11/04/17 11:31 AM
In science fiction there are thousands of scenarios which depict gene manipulation gone wrong. Its part of the "What IF" lure of the genre.

There are possible gene therapies that could promise a benefit to mankind.

Some are real science theory and others are a fantastic speculation.
For instance, Longevity...

Could humans live to 500 years old? Scientists believe genetic tweaks could significantly extend our lifespan
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2523086/Could-humans-live-500-years-old-Scientists-believe-genetic-tweaks-significantly-extend-lifespan.html

The research raises the prospect of anti-ageing treatments based on genetic interactions, they said.

Why do we grow old?
http://isciencemag.co.uk/blog/why-do-we-grow-old/

Telomeres consist of the bases ‘TTAGGG’ repeated thousands of times at the ends of your chromosomes. These repeats then loop round like a lasso to create a ‘T-loop’ structure.

Telomeres, apart from being exceptionally fascinating, are hugely relevant to aging. In a sense, they are like the little plastic caps on the ends of your shoe laces. They are at the ends of your chromosomes to prevent the DNA (your shoe laces) from fraying; keeping your DNA intact.

When telomeres shorten in humans, they send a WARNING signal to the rest of the cell, and the cell begins to senesce: gene expression changes and the cell secretes factors that cause age-related diseases. Much like a candle slowly burning down until the flame goes out, our telomeres shorten as we age.

However, for some of our cells, the telomeres do not shorten. These cells are immortal. Our germ cells (those that produce eggs and sperm) and our stem cells are part of this small but significant immortal community. These cells contain a significant abundance of the enzyme telomerase, which is able to extend the telomere length by adding additional copies of the telomere repeat TTAGGG. Why can’t all of our cells have telomerase so we might have a chance of living forever?

How can telomeres help us? We now know that we expect telomere shortness to precede and predict the diseases of aging. Measuring telomere length may thus allow future generations to pre-empt, intercept and even prevent age-related diseases.

So basically, Gene therapy could increase your HEALTHY LIFESPAN.
Quite a substantial possible real life benefit.

Right now, our science is not able to successfully splice genes from different animals like we genetically splice plants and viruses. But consider what could happen if we could.

One of the most familiar animal hybrids is the mule, which is the product of a male donkey and a female horse. Another pair of celebrated hybrids are ligers (a male lion and a female tiger) and tigons (a female lion and a male tiger) which have characteristics of both species.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/10659-hybrid-creatures-real-science-splice.html

Imagine a human that has the qualities of a fish.
Imagine a human modified to survive long periods of space travel.
While it may seem like pure fantasy right now, nano-technology and gene manipulation could bring such hybrids to futrition.

Consider that the Earth is constantly changing.
The conditions for life are also constantly changing.
There is less oxygen now than there was in the past.
Evolutionary gene manipulation isn't often able to keep up with those changes. Gene manipulation science may help us prevent or postpone evolutionary extinctions.

DiminishedConcern's photo
Tue 11/07/17 02:20 AM
Telomeres are like error buffers they activate after rna transcription when mitochondrial replication completes. Resolving cross linking mutations and broken or cleaved dimers by zinc patching or signalling for apoptosis. This however doesn't avoid the damage or inherent mutations from occurring otherwise. Leaving consumer products such as pa65 relatively helpful but useless. By reverting progenitor cells such as basal skin cells to pluripotent form. One can then essentially reset the genetic format to inclinate conditions. And by using specific genes packaged to create that pluripotent condition and encapsulated into lentiviral vectors. One can effectively affluence any somatic cell line. The real trick is dosing or leaving enough cellular structure functioning to facilitate the change without systemic failure. Meaning if you have enough clout knowledge and coin we can inextricably reverse aging.

no photo
Tue 11/07/17 10:36 AM
shouldn't be done. needs to stop

Tom4Uhere's photo
Tue 11/07/17 11:09 AM

Telomeres are like error buffers they activate after rna transcription when mitochondrial replication completes. Resolving cross linking mutations and broken or cleaved dimers by zinc patching or signalling for apoptosis. This however doesn't avoid the damage or inherent mutations from occurring otherwise. Leaving consumer products such as pa65 relatively helpful but useless. By reverting progenitor cells such as basal skin cells to pluripotent form. One can then essentially reset the genetic format to inclinate conditions. And by using specific genes packaged to create that pluripotent condition and encapsulated into lentiviral vectors. One can effectively affluence any somatic cell line. The real trick is dosing or leaving enough cellular structure functioning to facilitate the change without systemic failure. Meaning if you have enough clout knowledge and coin we can inextricably reverse aging.

Reverse aging?
To reverse aging all cells would need to be rebuilt and the DNA that is in new cells would need to be rebuilt constantly.
The problem I see is at what point and veracity should the process be interrupted?

Menopause/maxipause?
Puberty?
Birth?
Conception?

The way I understand aging is that cellular generation is constructive until puberty. After puberty cellular generation is extirpating due to the degeneration of the DNA.

If a process were invented to rebuild all DNA, is there a point of health that could be set? If so, could that point be maintained?
http://e-drexler.com/d/06/00/EOC/EOC_Chapter_7.html#section08of08

Without completely rebuilding a body as a whole, the parts that were not rebuilt will affect those that were. Its a simple case of cause and effect.
Like someone with a bionic arm, trying to support the weight of a car, will break their back.

A common theme in science fiction depicts immortality losing the ability to reproduce. If an organism is immortal, there is no need to reproduce.
What other things might be nullified by reversing the aging process?

Intellect (brain capacity)
Memory (synaptic function)
Immunity (mutability)
Energy Levels (calorie burning)

The complexity of a living body is interdependent on its mechanisms. Change one part, it affects all parts in some way.

Tom4Uhere's photo
Tue 11/07/17 11:12 AM

shouldn't be done. needs to stop

Personally, I don't care if it is done or not.

If given the choice of dying of old age or living for 500 years I pick natural death. I don't even wish to live to 100 in a perfect body.

no photo
Wed 11/08/17 12:00 AM
can't do body.......if so....still should call some kind of nano tech. none of business of bio-physics theo......the whole genetech theo just kind of joke. it need the healthy both complete cell system to functioning. but if do so like this.....then there will be the T-cell resistant problem. otherwise.....there will nolonger evolution of the species. because all the merchantical function of bio-system will be define as machine-physical function. will believing the robot can evol it self by it's program? then you've got the point both ideology within. and buy me some beef some day......drinker

no photo
Sat 11/18/17 08:52 PM
Genetic manipulayion is a very good thing. as far as farming is concerned, it has some side effects but in healtcare sector like disease diagnosis and drug discovery it has played a very important role

Heavente's photo
Mon 11/20/17 03:16 PM
Great thing, in good hands tho...

DiminishedConcern's photo
Tue 01/09/18 11:42 PM
I added replies indicated by a hyphen to your questions posed.

Reverse aging?
To reverse aging all cells would need to be rebuilt and the DNA that is in new cells would need to be rebuilt constantly.
The problem I see is at what point and veracity should the process be interrupted? - I would say once a particular cellular line percentage loses a certain efficiency amount to perform it's function -

Menopause/maxipause?
Puberty?
Birth?
Conception?
- Thalamus and pituitary based hormones generally regulate progesterone testosterone estrogen and hgh to igf1. Dependence promoters can be altered.

The way I understand aging is that cellular generation is constructive until puberty. After puberty cellular generation is extirpating due to the degeneration of the DNA.

- Stem cells are active throughout one's lifetime there are areas known as niches from which propagation issues forth in each separate somatic line. Dna degradation generally isn't the conducive issue simply because dna repair mechanisms are generally very effective. So much so that after a gene edit it's discernable exactly how it will repair itself and is left to do so. More importantly is the gene expression values. Inconsistency and over or under expression can affect other gene dependent expression values. Causing a cascade shift register effect of pathways and causing other pliant genes to attempt to balance signalling errors. This is why everything is mirrored as a double stranded biological check sum -

If a process were invented to rebuild all DNA, is there a point of health that could be set? If so, could that point be maintained? - Absolutely and as processes improve the overall ease of doing so would inevitably increase -

http://e-drexler.com/d/06/00/EOC/EOC_Chapter_7.html#section08of08

Without completely rebuilding a body as a whole, the parts that were not rebuilt will affect those that were. Its a simple case of cause and effect.
Like someone with a bionic arm, trying to support the weight of a car, will break their back. - Organ transplantation is a prime example of singular systemic replacement. And soon there will be even less drawbacks if it's based from your own genomic data -

A common theme in science fiction depicts immortality losing the ability to reproduce. If an organism is immortal, there is no need to reproduce.
What other things might be nullified by reversing the aging process?
- None foreseeable we still have to exist within certain boundaries. Germlines wouldn't necessarily be affected by any typical gene edit nor would they be passed along to offspring. Leaving unadulterated reproduction probable given physiological ability is maintained unless they were selectively targeted to do otherwise -

Intellect (brain capacity)
Memory (synaptic function)
Immunity (mutability)
Energy Levels (calorie burning)

The complexity of a living body is interdependent on its mechanisms. Change one part, it affects all parts in some way.
- I would say the body seeks homeostasis but is adaptive or resistant reactive to stimulus especially on a cellular and genomic level -

no photo
Wed 01/10/18 04:17 AM
Even though it's been going on for a while I think it's a dangerous precedent. Remember that old commercial - "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature"? I think that the more we try to mess with what's
been working for this planet since sustainable forms of life began, the more we will live to regret it. Nature is a force greater than ourselves, which is probably why man is so hell bent on changing it. lol

2 Next