Day 6 - 59 -- Genes

Between meetings today, I attended a lecture on nutritional genetics -- how food and nutrients can affect gene expression -- positively or negatively. It brought many questions about the degree of evidence available as it is still in its infancy as science goes. Other hot topics included the lack of regulation of companies offering genetic testing with advice and interpretation that isn't always accurate and can be totally false. When dealing with health advice, this becomes a major concern. One of my questions came from the ethics of handling personal genetic material. Will the company involved dispose of it as requested or does it sit somewhere in a repository to be shared with who knows who? Without regulations, this becomes a major ethical dilemma. Some solid understandings of food and genes do exist, with the caffeine metabolism rate the best known of these. If we remove caffeine more slowly from our systems -- based on our genetic makeup -- it can increase our risk of heart attack. If we reduce intake to equivalent of two cups of coffee daily instead of the general recommendation or four cups per day, this will reduce that heart disease risk. So -- the testing process isn't without its benefits. It depends on who is providing the information and what degree of raining they have in the science and do they keep up with the newer research findings.

We chatted about genealogy and genetic testing to tell you where your ancestors came from on this planet. I've often been flummoxed by the advertisement noting that the family with an Italian family history actually tests as Scottish -- something that seemed surprising to the family involved. Yet, humans have migrated around the world often. Scottish soldiers and sailors would have traveled to Europe and other continents intermingling along the way. Knowing where our genes originate is in its infancy, too. When new technology like this comes along, commercialization occurs almost instantly. This can lead to overstating what little is currently understood.

While washing my hair tonight, I was working through some of this topic.  The song chosen to share arrived when I asked myself a question. <smile> Enjoy!

Who are You? -- The Who