When It Comes to Genetic Code, Researchers Prove Optimum Isn't Always Best

Ok. They had proven, that a circadian clock can be messed up another way. Good work, good learning.

The flowery language about precise Swiss clocks is inappropriate in the article. Local clocks are rather crude timekeepers. They simply do a "good enough" timekeeping with central synchronization, that in turn is synchronized by external events, like sunrise. When in cave experiment the external reference is removed, the system's timekeeping tend to slip toward 25h per (assumed) day.

In every organized system, the local ones tend to be even less exact "good enough" designs.

I understand what you mean about local clocks and 25 hrs. It's a bit surprising, in fact, that the system still hovers around 24 hrs. The local clocks are then synchronizing to what? Sleep, perhaps? Food intake? Or these plus others? That is most likely. I think, the, relatively, slight variance from 24 hrs is due to an inherent time period for closed loop bodily processes that have developed because of the external cues noted. I haven't read enough about circadian physiology to know what discovered knowledge, or hypotheses, has been given to explain how it developed. (This seems like as good a place to start, as any.) Will that, even, be explained, ultimately, by genomic science? The genomic mechanism seems to be at the root of all life.

The main thought I took from the article, is, the "assumption" was made that they "understood" how to optimize codons. Turns out they didn't. Their rules didn't apply in this case.

A key quote from the article is: "Because many genetic diseases are the result of improperly functioning proteins, Sachs says knowledge about how proteins are made and why they have impaired functions is critical to understanding almost all diseases." (Emphasis mine.) The implication being that altering genetic material might create new genetic diseases. Nuances might even become nuanced, themselves, with possible changes/consequences becoming exponential.

So I, now, apply this lack of understanding to the subject of genetically modified organisms (foods, mainly) and see a real possibility that this lack of understanding could easily be duplicated in other areas of "genomic science," and the applied genetic engineering. That, coupled with the idea of epigenetics, and the presumption that we know what we're doing, is irresponsible.

GMO research and activities will march on. That genie is out of the bottle. I just wonder if a generation or two down the line, we'll suddenly see effects that, then, will seem puzzling because enough time will have passed that applying the concept of epigenetics, and an accompanying link to a GMO, might be overlooked -- likely not the first conclusion. It has been suggested that the current epidemic of diabetes among young people could be an epigenetic phenomena.

It is a common misconception that we will know enough within the next couple of centuries to have most of it, if not all, figured out. That hasn't been the case in science. Newtonian physics was a big leap in knowledge. Quantum physics, another big leap. Physics now has its Dark Matter and Dark Energy, just when we thought the circle was almost complete. When the movie, "2001," was in theaters, in 1968, 2001 seem so far away -- at least at my age then. We could suspend belief and almost convince ourselves that, that target date for what appeared in the movie might not be such a stretch. After all, we were in space, headed for the Moon. Fulfilled science fiction is a mixed bag. Caution: objects in crystal ball may be further away than they appear.

I think, overall, human impact on Nature, as a system, has been for the worse, not the better.

A change mechanism, due to nuances we don't fully understand, would become that much harder to trace backwards. Will we, as a species, end up being too clever for our own good? I have mixed feelings about missing the ending.

For #2 and #3.

For some reason, some of I can surmise from feedback theory, longer natural cycle of a clock can easily be synchronised by a pulse occurring "early". Too long ones are complicated.

Now to a material contribution.

It is curious, that hormones, that persist and functional till today, are in existence for a couple of billions of years. Estrogen hormones exist in single celled organisms in the oceans today, that defy modern understanding of the need for it, there. Cell to cell signalling in multicellular beings is well accepted.

Melatonin signals the circadian timing to the parts of a body. Since it is generated within the reptilian core of the body, it is that old. I presume, the fish operates by it too. It is setting nighttime activities, then the first light hitting the eye sweeps it out, setting the daytime part of the cycle. For simpler beings? I do not know.

Please do not worry about the modifications of the genetic code in lab (that DOES NOT enter normal life). It is a standard technique to explore, what is important, and what is not.

The remainder of the article is plain blurb, plain and simple.

Anyone who's been bitten by a fire ant in the U.S. can understand worrying about what's going on in a lab or with any human activity anywhere in the world. We're a pesky species. We seem to be the the ultimate contamination vector. (A few examples: 1, 2, 3, ... and so on. Actually, my concern/point is/was, GE isn't accidental, it's intentional, without full knowledge of repercussions. Both accidents and intentional actions carry the possibility of unknown consequences. Accidents, also, do happen.)

For a legalistic view there's this report/study.

I agree with George Carlin -- the world/nature will adapt to whatever gets thrown at it. We just might be one of the casualties.

(Not connected, but just for grins, how about this story? Isn't the Web fun?)

I forgot to mention the estrogen info. is very interesting.

My body's clock has always been 25 hours. Once a month I end up staying up til 4 in the morning until total exhaustion makes me get 4 hours of sleep.

Probably tends to ancient times when someone in the tribe had to stay up all night to keep the wolves at bay. 24 hour people would have gotten eaten sooner or later.

Hallo.

I have read your note with interest. I have a different view on a number of things, depending on their background, severity potential, ethics.... involved.

For example, I have studied biochemistry, at first spurred on by my daughter's studies and natural health. Now I have 2 bloody edge PhDs to discuss matters with. To understand biochemistry labwork is essential. Seeing their standard, they are fine. Understanding is essential to our future.

On the other hand, don't even start me on GMOs. On a different thread I vented quite badly. What was / is lacking there in the brouhaha is ethics of the participants. It also tainted the whole industry. Now, I read that Vitamin A enriched rice is finally permitted in the Philippines, after a decade worrying. High time, for that. Roundup ready crop?!? What for? Because it could be done? Now, it cannot be undone?!?

Forget about VECTORS in that sense, you mentioned. Animals, bugs etc. were vectors as long as there was life on Earth. There is plenty of research on migrating bird mixed and vectored SARS viruses. That matter is a mainstay for FLU prediction and vaccine production. Mostly miss, much less hit.

I saw a (most likely last) series from Attenborough. He mentioned, that the worldwide decade long crash of amphibians is fungal. Not anything else. Sad. But now research does its best to keep species alive.

I also am disagreeing with all sides on DDT. The film showing indiscriminate spraying on streets with children is brutal stupidity. Flat banning it is the same. Now, that the mosquitoes are well researched, Inside spraying of huts and houses is effective in preventing malaria, on a very limited basis.

I saw a program about Borneo (or was it Papua New Guinea?). A large portion of the original foliage is replaced with oil palm trees. To produce biodiesel. That is mostly transported to first world countries on green demands. Ethical? Like hell it is.

Good intentions lead to hell in a hurry, unless weighed and checked carefully.