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A challenge to the genetic interpretation of biology
A proposal for reformulating the foundations of biology, based on the 2nd law of thermodynamics and which is in sharp contrast to the prevailing genetic view, is published today in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface under the title "Genes without prominence: a reappraisal of the foundations of biology".
…the prominent emphasis currently given to the gene in biology is based on a flawed interpretation of experimental genetics and should be replaced by more fundamental considerations of how the cell utilises energy. There are far-reaching implications, both in research and for the current strategy in many countries to develop personalised medicine based on genome-wide sequencing.
…to assume that genes are unavoidable influences on our health and behaviour will distract attention from the real causes of disease, many of which arise from our environment;
the current strategy towards basing healthcare on genome-wide sequencing, so called "personalised healthcare", will prove costly and ineffective.
What is personalised health care?
This is the idea that it will be possible to predict at birth, by determining the total DNA sequence (genome-wide sequence), health outcomes in the future and take preventive measures. Most European countries have research programmes in this and in the UK a pilot study with 100,000 participants is underway.
…to assume that genes are unavoidable influences on our health and behaviour will distract attention from the real causes of disease, many of which arise from our environment
What's "not genetic?" Are you saying that genetics have no influence on health and behavior?
Bottom line: It's NOT genetic
phys.org...
This process consumes energy and is therefore governed by the 2nd law, but also by the environment in which the folding takes place. These two factors mean that there is no causal relationship between the original gene coding sequence and the biological activity of the protein.
family history
*Genes, Behavior and Environment* are all contributing factors.
So...genes have nothing to do with anything. The proteins which define life just sort of happen.
Family history implies inherited, but inherited does not necessarily mean genetic - protein mutations can be and are inherited without genetic mutations (or DNA mutations). It's called epigenetic inheritance.
The proteins which define life can and do mutate without DNA mutation - it's called epigenetic.
Phage
reply to post by soficrow
Epigenetic inheritance does not really involve DNA mutation. It is the addition of "markers" to DNA, not changes to the genes. It is a phenomenon separate and distinct from DNA mutation, both of which occur and are inheritable. Both of which have effects on genetic expression.
www.epialliance.org.au...
But are you saying that epigentics does have health and behavioral outcomes? If that were the case it would seem to be in conflict with your OP. Since epigentics affect gene expression you would seem to be saying that gene expression does indeed have something to do with inherited traits and therefore health and behavior.
Phage
reply to post by soficrow
The proteins which define life can and do mutate without DNA mutation - it's called epigenetic.
Epigentics determines genetic expression. It determines how, when, and if genes produce proteins.
No. I'm saying that gene expression is a matter of inheritance and is a result of both genetics and epigentics.
Are you playing some kind of game here?
Yes, epigenetics affects some gene expression.
Epigenetics is all about override.
Epigenetics can override genetic programming, and change the protein that was programmed for production.
Yes, epigenetics affects some gene expression.
And without genes, there is no genetic expression to talk about. So, it is a matter of genetic inheritance.
The cells in a multicellular organism have nominally identical DNA sequences (and therefore the same genetic instruction sets), yet maintain different terminal phenotypes. This nongenetic cellular memory, which records developmental and environmental cues (and alternative cell states in unicellular organisms), is the basis of epi-(above)–genetics.
The lack of identified genetic determinants that fully explain the heritability of complex traits, and the inability to pinpoint causative genetic effects in some complex diseases, suggest possible epigenetic explanations for this missing information. This growing interest, along with the desire to understand the “deprogramming” of differentiated cells into pluripotent/totipotent states, has led to “epigenetic” becoming shorthand for many regulatory systems involving DNA methylation, histone modification, nucleosome location, or noncoding RNA. This is to be encouraged, but the labeling of nongenetic systems as epigenetic by default has the potential to confuse (see the related video at www.sciencemag.org/special/epigenetics/).
So what is epigenetics? An epigenetic system should be heritable, self-perpetuating, and reversible (Bonasio et al., p. 612).
Epigenetics literally means "above" or "on top of" genetics. It refers to external modifications to DNA that turn genes "on" or "off." These modifications do not change the DNA sequence, but instead, they affect how cells "read" genes.
Epigenetic inheritance
It may be possible to pass down epigenetic changes to future generations if the changes occur in sperm or egg cells. Most epigenetic changes that occur in sperm and egg cells get erased when the two combine to form a fertilized egg, in a process called "reprogramming." This reprogramming allows the cells of the fetus to "start from scratch" and make their own epigenetic changes. But scientists think some of the epigenetic changes in parents' sperm and egg cells may avoid the reprogramming process, and make it through to the next generation. If this is true, things like the food a person eats before they conceive could affect their future child. However, this has not been proven in people.
I agree. But the article in the OP seems to be saying that gene expression doesn't have much to do with it. It's all about, "how the cell utilises energy."
When a gene, a string of bases on the DNA molecule, is deployed, it is first transcribed and then translated into a peptide – a string of amino acids. To give rise to biological properties it needs to "fold" into a protein.
This process consumes energy and is therefore governed by the 2nd law, but also by the environment in which the folding takes place. These two factors mean that there is no causal relationship between the original gene coding sequence and the biological activity of the protein.
When we eat foods that we have not yet acquired the genetic instructions to process correctly
We share the same genes but those genes are not all the same. Variations within a gene result in differences between people. A variation within the HERC2 gene causes people to have blue eyes. We all have the gene but we don't all have blue eyes.
we all share the same genes yet are unique and often hugely different.
"the study of changes in gene function that are mitotically and/or meiotically heritable and that do not entail a change in DNA sequence."
Variations within a gene result in differences between people.
"the study of changes in gene function that are mitotically and/or meiotically heritable and that do not entail a change in DNA sequence."
Yes. Gene function. Genetic function.
Gene variations do not come anywhere near explaining the vast array of individual difference.
I'm saying that variations caused by epigenetics are still based on genetics. Your OP says that they aren't. Your OP says that they are based on "how the cell utilises energy."
I don't get what you're trying to say here.