Next year, 2010 might behold the revelation of long-lived rhetoric and discourse about human Genetics. In a previously published article in ‘The Economist’ Geoffrey Miller, depicts that science might finally go a step further in the comprehension of human genetics.
The polemic of how far genetic factors determine differences amidst and across culture has since long been a quandary. There are rising divergence as well as convergences amidst consensus of geneticists and other scientists. The attempt to understand human evolution is an aggressive progress that genetics might reveal.
Research is advancing like a ‘formula 1’ race. The fall in cost involved in research such as decreasing cost to perform DNA sequencing and genetic testing, are all encompassing factors for rapid advancements. Nowadays a complete genome sequencing and DNA sequencing cost $10, 000 and $1,000, respectively while the cost is still at a shrinking trend.
The point to be noted is that decreasing cost in DNA sequencing has enabled pervasive increase in research paper on both physical and behaviour traits. This goes beyond simple analysis to complex personality, behavioral and criminal study.
The introduction of ‘genome-wide association studies’ (GWAS) some five years ago brought research to a higher level. Moreover, since early research, it had already been concluded from a study that traits of families and twins are inheritable. It made it evident that genetic variation accounts for personality differences. Britain’s Wellcome Trust and America’s National Institutes of Health gave the engine more fuel by providing grants in gene-hunting, and research has since then soared.
Eventually, our state of technology is only able to detect known DNA sequences; alteration or unknown sequences are still categorized as unidentified findings. However, the plunge in cost of DNA technology is giving variations in further definitions of DNA. This is what the future is beholding, comprehensive understanding of DNA sequences.
Inborn discrimination
The innate belief that we are all equal is about to become a forgotten memory. Findings about inequalities and innate differences in humankind are about to be published. The fact that genetics of ancestors determines personality, behavior and even life span of people is revolutionary news. Research has even gone as far as to find ideal mates; faithfulness is said to be influenced by gene such as AVPR1. Genes apart from proving the fidelity statue can also elicit trust-related behaviors.
The implications can be pervasive. In the future, online dating services will probably be introducing gene desirability whereas sperm donors must qualify certain criteria.
Gene determination will be revealed
Miller, is an author of several empirical books, such as Spent: Sex, Evolution and Consumer Behavior. Apart from being a writer he is an evolutionary psychologist at the University of New Mexico. He portrays that the revelation of individual characteristic or so-called instinct can help to change them. People, who prefer a sumptuous lifestyle can consider other opportunities such as rejuvenation therapies. Longevity studies will unfortunately not be proven as soon as our unequal endowment of psychological, physical and physiological attributes determined by genes.
Go for Rejuvenation therapies
Going through this summary research, Kübler-Ross model of five stages of grief/death can be related. In our life we generally go through five stages;
1. Denial — “I am fine I cannot die’
2. Anger — “Why me? It is unfair!”
3. Bargaining — “let me live a few years more.”
4. Depression — “Life is not necessary, I will die anyway”
5. Acceptance — “Life is going to end soon, I must be prepared
Research on longevity and discovery on DNA sequences gives us an estimated of our life span based on genetic factors. It even extends the possibility to ‘bargain’ for a longer life expectancy.
Reference:
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14742737
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model
Mon, Dec 7, 2009
Bioscience, Gerontology, Health And Aging, Longevity