We've known for a long time that our antibody-forming system adapts itself to every microbe we encounter. What we didn't understand fully is exactly how this happens. Now that we know, we can begin to find ways to manipulate this process so illnesses can be prevented or made significantly less dangerous.
When the body encounters a foreign invader, like a virus or bacterium, it immediately begins to find a way to neutralize it by means of cellular or antibody-mediated defenses. Part of the process involves tailoring the genes that code for antibodies to specific viruses or bacteria. Researchers have known that this involves two types of genetic manipulation. One type changes a single gene at a time, and the other type changes multiple genes at the same time. Multiple genes can be modified simultaneously to make the "evolutionary leap" necessary to stave off infection. You treat DNA responsible for making antibody molecules with an enzyme, called activation-induced deaminase, while the DNA copies RNA polymerase. Like a scanner, RNA polymerase moves across the DNA to copy it. When this scanning process moves smoothly, there were either single mutations or no mutations. We can now stall the RNA polymerase (under certain conditions) as it "scans", causing cluster mutations in the DNA, adapting our antibodies for a rapid and effective response to a new microbial invader. Germs are mutating all over the place - we can now "plan" mutations of our own to save us as global warming makes infectious diseases one the biggest threats to human survival. Personally, I would rather leap into a new form of existence much more sensible than the human one, No work seems to being done on this. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
