As a child during Halloween, candy could be indulged in great amounts and our digestive system did not even hesitate to metabolize it. When age becomes a factor, it has been said that the gene called Foxo is to blame for the agony of candy or junk food bingeing.
Identifying the gene responsible for regulation of metabolism helps researches develop means of intervening with this process. Intervention will help in the [preservation of a] well-functioning metabolism" even as one ages.
My question to you all is, what are the down sides if any to this intervention of the metabolic pathway?
Click on article below to read more about the topic:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131014221500.htm
I'm wondering if this gene is only responsible for the sweets and not anything other food type. It seems like it would be an asset in obese studies either way. But I'm not sold on the whole manipulating our genome thing. Seems too risky to me.
ReplyDeleteThey used candy as the main topic, but it did mention "junk food" and later described "high-sugar/high-fat diets". So it does go beyond just sweets as a means of the Foxo gene not working the same as one ages. Secondly, I too do not like the idea of interfering with the genome. Something about it does not rub me the right way.
DeleteAs fun as it would be to have a fast metabolism for the rest of my life, I don't think I would want to possibly harm another gene in the process of correcting this one.
ReplyDeleteThat will always be the risk of advancing science. Essentially, that is what terrifies me the most. The domino effect it may have when trying to perfect one aspect over the other.
DeleteI agree with Mariah, harming a gene just to have a positive. I know there is a give and take but will this take cause a mutation that maybe cause you to get a disease?
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what I said in response to Mariah's post. It is a matter of a domino effect. "Fixing" one issue can lead to a variety of others to rise, that would have never occurred if left alone; at least that's in my opinion.
DeleteI agree with the other comments. Like they said in the article, metabolism is a complicated process. It is impossible to know every implication of manipulating this gene. But who knows, it could be the next miracle therapy for people with metabolic disorders.
ReplyDeleteThis is true also. There are definitely down falls, but what if the good outweighs the bad?
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