The science of virusesvirology


Changing the Information Flow from Your DNA can Change Your Life

When James Watson and Francis Crickthat you may be able to change the
first discovered the structure of DNA ininformation flow from DNA without
1953 they thought they had discoveredactually changing the structure of DNA.
the secret of life. This complex nucleicThis idea has widespread ramifications.
acid was capable of storing all of theIt is now thought that chronic diseases
information necessary to produce andsuch as diabetes and heart disease are
maintain a living organism. The sciencenot solely caused by genes but also have
of genetics was born and moved toward aa strong behavioral component.
complete understanding of the geneInformation not only travels from DNA to
culminating in the genome project whichcells but can also travel back to DNA
mapped the human genome in 1993.from outside sources. There is a
Our genes determine what our bodies lookfeedback loop of information flowing to
like and how they work. Even behavioraland from DNA. The system consists of
traits have been linked to our genes.more than a static one-way flow of
Information is thought to flow down ainformation but is more holistic and
one way street; from the DNA wellspringdynamic in nature involving feedback
to cells to the rest of the body. Thisfrom the organism.
concept of one-way information flow isA practical implication of this concept
even called the central dogma ofis the feedback from behaviors. For
biology. But are we really slaves to ourexample, following a healthy lifestyle
genes?can not only provide benefits to your
Watson and Crick's monumental discoverywellbeing but these benefits can also be
was a giant step in understanding thepassed on to your offspring. We have
inner workings of life but it was notbeen touting the benefits of following a
the whole story. The idea of a one-wayhealthy lifestyle for years but until
flow of information is now changing withrecently no one knew that actual genes
the new science of epigenetics.could be turned on or off.
Epigenetics has to do with changes inThis opens up a whole new realm of
the function of genes without changingthinking. In other words someone may
DNA. In other words there may be ahave a gene for cancer or heart disease
complex information system that affectsbut it is possible for that gene never
the information flow from DNA to theto be turned on. I personally find this
cell without affecting the DNA itself.information hopeful in finding new ways
This system is affected by behavioralto live a healthy life and to heal. We
and environmental changes. This meansare not slaves to our genes after all.



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