Information on DNA and Wellness and their connection
You owe it to yourself to become an active participant in your health and well-being!
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Bad driver? Study says genetics may play role
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 No commentsBy Landon Hall
Orange County RegisterSANTA ANA, Calif. — We might never be able to feel sympathy for the speeding driver who swerves into our lane, barely missing the bumper, only to cut back into his original lane a quarter-mile later. But new research may at least help us understand him.
A new study at the University of California, Irvine, reveals that people with a gene variation that gives them less of a brain protein linked to memory retention performed more than 20% worse in a driving simulation than people who had higher levels of the protein.
So can lousy drivers blame their lack of awareness, slow reaction time and ill-considered risk-taking — in short, their infuriating awfulness — on their DNA? Since about 1 in 3 Americans appears to have the gene abnormality, not necessarily. But it could be a factor.
“Any behavior is the sum total of a number of different genes and factors, but this definitely suggests that this particular gene does affect short-term motor learning,” said Stephanie McHughen, a graduate student in UCI’s Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and the lead author of the study, which appeared recently in the journal Cerebral Cortex.
The researchers, led by Dr. Steven Cramer, chose 29 healthy volunteers ages 18-30. Twenty-two of the subjects had the normal gene that secretes a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF. The protein facilitates communication among brain cells
and keeps the memory fresh. The other seven subjects were known to have the gene variant, which limits the secretion of BDNF.The subjects were asked to drive a video game-like simulator, complete with steering wheel and a monitor showing a racetrack, for 15 laps. The course was filled with tricky curves, and the drivers were graded on how far they deviated from the center.
Not only did the protein-deficient drivers perform worse on the initial exercise, they also retained less information about the course than their protein-rich counterparts when the exercise was repeated four days later.
While the test group was small, the research has implications for people who have suffered memory loss
from brain or spinal trauma, such as accidents or strokes.BDNF “gushes out” after such an event, said Cramer, an associate professor in UCI’s Neurology and Anatomy and Neurobiology departments.
But if the gene variant reduces the level of secreted BDNF in these victims, it also could slow their cognitive and motor-skill development as they recover.
“Let’s assume that evidence this compass is pointing to is true: that one-third of people have lesser outcomes after an injury as a result of this genetic variation,” Cramer said. “Then we need to do something different for these people.”
DNAWellnessinfo.com Resource: http://bit.ly/2Qqbzo
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23andMe Tests NFL Players’ DNA for Athletic Genetic Factors
Posted on October 13th, 2009 No commentsreuters.com - 10/13/09 Personal Genetics Company's Research Reported in ESPN The Magazine's "Cheating is so 1999" - on Newsstands MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- 23andMe, Inc., an industry leader in personal genetics, conducted the genetic analysis of both former and current NFL players, as well as scientific controls, to investigate how genes impact athletic performance. Over 100 players were recruited for the study, the largest genetic examination ever conducted on professional American athletes. It was performed as a result of discussions with senior writer Shaun Assael of ESPN The Magazine and the Buck Institute and its president Jim Kovach, a former Saints linebacker. The Buck Institute is recognized as the country's leading independent research institute devoted to age research and chronic disease. Results were reported by Assael in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine, on newsstands now. Researchers at the Duke University Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, the Stanford University School of Medicine and 23andMe teamed up with the Buck Institute to do the study. In a "GWAS" (Genome Wide Association Study) comparing NFL "pros" to "Joes," 23andMe initially looked for variants associated with athletic prowess using the players' raw genetic data obtained from 23andMe testing. The study did not find the tested players to be genetic outliers, suggesting that genetics may not be a good predictor of athletic success. The researchers then investigated a specific list of genes in the players associated with athletic ability and longevity, including grip power, oxygen-carrying capacity and injury risk. For example, mutations in the gene COL1A1 (which is responsible for the manufacture of collagen, the protein that keeps ligaments strong) have been associated with a reduced risk of ACL tears in limited previous research. Knowledge about an individual's COL1A1 type could in the future allow athletes to better understand their risk of knee injury. The genetic traits examined in the sample of NFL players are not part of 23andMe's direct-to-consumer service, but speak to the breadth of the genetic research the company is undertaking. "This was a unique opportunity to take on an innovative research idea using our platform and working collaboratively with two outstanding academic institutions, Duke and Stanford" said Anne Wojcicki, President and Co-Founder. "NFL players in addition to all our customers contribute to our research platform and help us make discoveries," Wojcicki continued. "This study, our Parkinson's Disease initiative, launched with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Parkinson's Institute, and our Senior Games Genome Project, coordinated with the National Center for Senior Health and Fitness, are the first of what we hope will be many divergent and exciting research projects at 23andMe. We look forward to announcing more results soon." About 23andMe 23andMe, Inc. is a leading personal genetics company dedicated to helping individuals understand their own genetic information through DNA analysis technologies and web-based interactive tools. The company's Personal Genome Service(TM) enables individuals to gain deeper insights into their ancestry and inherited traits. 23andMe, Inc., was founded in 2006, and the company is advised by a group of renowned experts in the fields of human genetics, bioinformatics and computer science. Its Series A investors include Genentech, Inc., Google Inc. and New Enterprise Associates. More information is available at www.23andme.com. SOURCE 23andMe, Inc. Rubenstein Communications: Rachel Nagler, +1-212-843-8017, rnagler@rubenstein.com, or Jane E. Rubinstein, +1-212-843-8287, jrubinstein@rubenstein.com DNAWellnessinfo.com Resource: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS137884+13-Oct-2009+PRN20091013 If you are interested is hearing from current and former NFL players using DNA Guided Nutrition - click here.
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Gene Discovery May Advance Head and Neck Cancer Therapy
Posted on October 7th, 2009 2 commentsExpanded list of genetic links might improve diagnosis, treatment, researchers say
Posted October 5, 2009
MONDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) — In a finding that could have a major impact on the diagnosis and treatment of one of the most deadly types of cancer, U.S. researchers have identified 231 potential new genes associated with head and neck cancer
Previously, only 33 genes were known to be linked to head and neck cancer, which includes cancers of the mouth, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, throat and lymph nodes in the neck.
“These new genes should advance selection of head- and neck-specific gene targets, opening the door to promising new molecular strategies for the early detection and treatment of head and neck cancer. It also may offer the opportunity to help monitor disease progression and a patient’s response to treatment,” study lead author Maria J. Worsham, director of research in the oncology department at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, said in a news release.
She and her colleagues examined DNA in five head and neck cancer tumor samples for 1,043 possible cancer-related genes. Of the 231 potential new genes associated with head and neck cancer, 50 percent were present in three or more of the DNA samples and 20 percent were present in all five samples.
The study was scheduled to be presented Oct. 4 at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation in San Diego.
Head and neck cancer causes 2.1 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States. About 39,000 Americans develop head and neck cancer a year, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Tobacco use is linked to 85 percent of head and neck cancers, according to the Cancer Institute.
More information
The American Society of Clinical Oncology has more about head and neck cancer.
DNAWellnessinfo.com Resource: http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/10/05/gene-discovery-may-advance-head-and-neck-cancer.html
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Breakthroughs in DNA medicine to revolutionise doctors’ training
Posted on July 13th, 2009 No commentsFrom The TimesJuly 13, 2009Mark Henderson, Science Editor
Doctors are to be given more specialised training in genetics to prepare the NHS for a revolution in DNA-based medicine, The Times has learnt.
A review of medical education in genetics is to examine what doctors need to know about the influence of DNA on common diseases and patients’ response to drugs, so they can exploit science’s growing understanding of the human genome in clinical practice.
In an interview with The Times, Professor Peter Farndon, director of the National Genetics Education and Development Centre, said recent advances in genetic science made it essential for doctors to have more access to information.
Though the last genetics syllabus for medical students and junior doctors was introduced in 2006, so much has changed since then that the centre was already working to update it, he said. It was also developing guidelines for professional education in the field.
DNAWellnessinfo.com Resource: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article6695368.ece
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Role of genes in weight management
Posted on July 11th, 2009 No commentsweightlossnutrition.com
Science is constantly trying to get behind the main factors for the obesity epidemic. From our hurried, fast food lifestyle to our laziness and penchant for T.V. watching rather than exercise, it seems relatively clear that, in most cases, the obesity epidemic is a result of our lifestyle choices. But for some, their genetics play a role that may be hard to fight against.
Family reunions let everyone in the family come together and see the role that genetics has played in their life; maybe you have Aunt Bertha’s red hair or Cousin Vinny’s brown eyes. Unfortunately, you can also inherit Uncle Roger’s pot belly and Grandpa Joe’s wide tush. This is because genetics plays a role in your fat cells and where they are stored.
Because of your DNA, you have a genetic predisposition to carry fat cells in the same areas as your family. Since families blend the DNA of many different people, you may take after one side of your family more than another. This could mean that you and your brother have the genetic predisposition to having love handles while your older sister doesn’t.
In addition to your propensity to carry fat in certain places, you’ll find that your body’s response to exercise mimics others in your family as well. If you have the right genes, you may find that you build muscle very quickly when weight training or, if you’re on the unfortunate end, you don’t.
But, what is the role of genes in weight management? Can you manipulate your genes to work for you rather than against you? For some with genetically linked health issues like thyroid problems, medications can be a solution. Medications can help your body run as it should and can pick up the slack for any glands that are impaired due to genetic lineage.
For most people, medication is not the answer. Instead, learning how your body responds to food and exercise if key to fighting your genes and managing your weight. If your family is filled with overweight people, and you see the signs in your own body that this is probably your destiny too, follow these steps to head genetics off at the pass.
- Eat right. Cut out sugars, simple carbohydrates (like white rice and white bread), and stay away from fast food. For some, learned eating habits play a bigger role in weight gain than genetics. Be sure to reevaluate the food lessons you’ve learned from your family and try to make the right decisions regarding what goes in your mouth.
- Exercise regularly. Ideally, you should exercise for one hour a day, five to six days per week. Unfortunately, real life often gets in the way of this. If you can exercise four times per week for one half hour per work out, you’ll find you can stave off the effects of genetics.
- Stick with it. Fighting your genes is not easy and you may find that you have to work harder than others to receive fewer results. Just remember the alternative facing you and stick with it.
Before embarking on any new physical fitness routine or new and improved eating plan, you should consult a physician. In addition to letting you know if the routine you want to try is healthy for you, they may have some other helpful tips to give you. Speaking with a nutritionist about your eating plan will also help you get ideas for variety and make sure that you haven’t included any foods that will hurt your weight management goals rather than help them.
DNAWellnessinfo.com Resource: http://www.weightlossnutrition.org/genes-weight-management/
DNA Guided Nutrition Breakthrough: http://www.dnaguidedwellnessproducts.com
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Wave Genetics: The Resurrection Of “Junk DNA”
Posted on July 5th, 2009 No commentsSunday July 5, 2009 – about.comIn an earlier essay – Tying Up Loose Ends: Topology Swallows Quantum Computing – I posed the question:
How might we, as Taoist, Buddhist or Hindu yogis and yoginis, transform ourselves – in particular the way that we process information, i.e. relate with the intelligence/energy of the manifest world – from something like Newtonian/classical computers, to something like topological quantum computers?
At the time of writing this, I was thinking largely in terms of the human nervous system. As it turns out, it may be the case that, at the level of our DNA, we already are functioning as something like quantum computers.
According to research conducted by Russian biophysicist and molecular biologist Pjotr Garjajev: “Living chromosomes function just like a holographic computer using endogenous DNA laser radiation.” In other words, DNA is a quantum mechanical biowave computer!
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