The Epigenetics Revolution
By Nessa Carey
Columbia University press
There are no truths, no dogma in science, and as Carey says, the declaration of DNA being the ultimate language of life was "at best, premature". She starts by giving the example of Dutch hunger winter and asks us to reconsider the validity of Lamarckism. After all, 98% of our DNA does not code for proteins, and one twin suffering from Schizophrenia does not imply that the other would too.
She goes on to explain the phenomenon of random X inactivation, the possibility of finding more than 2 genders and tortoiseshell cats. Epigenetics is closely linked with drug addiction, diets, obesity, ageing, memory, circadian rhythm, gregarious insects and the phenomenon of vernalization in plants (flowering in a particular season). It can explain the probabilities of developing chronic diseases. While cures with the help of epigenetics or against it is not possible yet, we tend to remain a hopeful species.
The Epigenetics revolution is underway.
Buy the book here: The Epigenetics Revolution
Comments
Post a Comment