Wow! Now who woulda thunk that?
There was an interesting theory that MS was caused by the herpes virus penetrating the genetic defenses and causing trouble. Don’t know what happened to that one.
I’m not microbiologist, but it was my understanding years ago that making genetic changes was how viruses operated. That’s the reason they first started using viruses when they were experimenting with controlled genetic changes to people and recombinant DNA. They have better methods now. Viruses have perfected ways to survive immune systems long enough to enter cells, alter them and their DNA, and then replicate. It seems logical that while viruses may be somewhat stable in their adaptative methods for exploiting and beating immune systems with some evolution whenever hosts evolve to beat them, but to vary much more in how they attempt to alter DNA so that whenever one is found to make a better host, it gains more success. And this has been going on for how long? It’s no wonder our human genome is a mess. Any changes that were too immediately detrimental obviously didn’t last because their victims didn’t have a chance to spread it. But everything else...
It would be interesting to see a study of people with different ancestries to determine the variation and effect of the viruses.
This is only a new way to garner more funds for useless research rather than studying the effects of that which we are being exposed to on a daily basis and causing much of our disease state.
We hold our own keys to our destruction and I will be geneticists in the driver’s seat pretending that they know what they are doing.
How did you get a NYT article posted?
I can’t even copy its contents to the clipboard. It’s blocked the mouse somehow...................
In spite of the Slimes posting this article, our personal DNA is probably the most significant factor in our health, good or bad.
Of course life styles and environmental challenges are factors.
About 5 years ago our FP for close to 4 decades retired. He was a big believer in our DNA having a huge factor in our quality of life and length. So, when the bs re the fat in our diet and blood came out, he told my wife and I with our genetic history not to worry about it.
After he retired we went to a good FP, however, on the lipid bs, he was programmed to push the anti lipid drugs, diets and other bs. My wife and I both had ancestors, who lived well into their 80’s and some past 80. My wife’s good lipid levels are in the super good range. A cardio friend said she could probably eat bacon/eggs for breakfast, beef for lunch and a steak for dinner and never have a heart attack.
Last fall before my annual visit, one of my nieces, really into genealogy, discovered my Dad’s family tree. Many males lived into their 80’s. Even more important over a century years ago, many lived to be into their hundreds. Two of my dad’s uncles (which we knew nothing about lived well past 100). She had similar documentations on my mother’s family.
So on my annual visit to my FP last year, when he started the
mandatory spiel to take the anti lipid drugs, I showed him the life spans on both sides of my family.
After he looked at them, he joked I should be selling my blood to those less fortunate.
If parents were to "nitrify" their bodies prior to conception, they would eliminate most maladies we face today.