Genetic Determinism Is Dead (or at least is should be)

Genetic Determinism has failed completely and totally to stay afloat in the science of the day.

The Human Genome Project was going to be the crowning achievement for all those who believed in Genetic Determinism. But the project has proven to be the sledge hammer that has destroyed it completely.

You see, the project caused more and more people to join in the research of discovering how genes work and what they do. As a result we have learned a lot!

Genetic Determinism said that a gene determines what proteins are formed, which determines what happens in the body. (I know that is very simplistic, but I'm trying to keep this understandable.) It was supposed to be kind of a one-way-street. The gene directs the body what to do.

Well, thanks to all the new research, we now know that it just isn't so. The communication channels in the body between DNA, RNA, proteins, etc, are more like the phone lines criss-crossing our country. Communication goes all over the place and in both directions at the same time. In fact, we now know that genes do not initiate communication. They are simply waiting for someone to contact them, so that they can share what they have to offer. I guess they got cell phones with no way to dial out.

The proteins make contact with the genes when they need something from them. Only certain proteins can make contact with certain genes. The proteins are formed by the needs of the body, determined by the environment.

The whole process can be just the opposite of the way Genetic Determinism pictured it to be. The environment can cause proteins to reconfigure RNA and DNA. The body can adapt very quickly to changes in it's environment.

However, there is an innate intelligence in every organism, from bacteria to human, which will always bring the organism back to equilibrium as soon as it can get the resources to do so.

In other words, Evolution of Species is also doomed. There are no changes which gradually little by little get passed along until something has evolved into something else.

I'm trying to keep this simple, but for those interested HERE is a link to a more in depth analysis by a biologist.

Also, be sure to read my book about "Understanding Science". It will help you to make sense of all the different "scientific" stuff thats gets thrown around these days.

So... what does all this mean to you and your life?

As your body comes in contact with toxins and pollutants it tries to adapt quickly to help you survive. If you have long term exposures to toxins, it gets harder and harder for your body to deal with it. This will eventually lead to chronic pain and or disease.

The good news is that your body still has the innate intelligence to heal itself, if it is given a break from all the stress, and also given the good resources (think whole, raw, natural foods) that it needs to repair and rebuild.

Perhaps the most difficult part of that, is to stop the stress. Let's talk more about stress tomorrow.