Can You Change Your Dna?

If you have ever wondered whether you can change your DNA, the basic answer is no. However, it's more complicated than that. DNA can be changed and it does change all the time, but we cannot currently change our own, or have any procedures carried out to have it changed by scientists for us.

A Complicated Issue

There are lots of companies out there that are taking advantage of the notion that we can change our DNA. The truth of the matter is, however, complex. Human DNA does change. Our bodies adjust the nucleotide sequence of DNA naturally, in order for the human species, or indeed any species to evolve.
When cells in our bodies divide, the DNA is copied across but polymerase doesn't always copy it exactly. Sometimes polymerase copies the sequence of nucleotide bases and gets it wrong, for example taking ATCATAGC and creating ATGATAGC. These subtle changes are usually harmless.

Most of the time, these mutations don't have any noticeable effect on our bodies and they occur outside of a coding region, or are similar enough changes to the original DNA to not affect the amino acid sequence. The changes that matter, however, stop the gene from actually doing anything or change its function and those changes are dangerous.

There are techniques in existence which deliberately use DNA polymerase to introduce changes to DNA, in the hope of provoking mutagenesis, however these are all tests conducted in labs. To date, there is little to no research into changing DNA within or for a living person. There are several reasons why altering a living person's DNA is not presently something we can do or would be willing to do. Some of these reasons are ethical, while others are scientific.

Ethical Considerations

Scientifically any potentially dangerous testing on human beings is unethical which makes gene therapy and other DNA related tests and procedures impractical. They are largely considered unthinkable at present and DNA related experiments such as cloning have been tested on animals (famously Dolly the sheep) but are not conducted on human beings.

Scientific Limitations

All of the work on human DNA has been carried out on cells in laboratories, not inside living people and it is entirely infeasible to change the DNA of a live human being using the techniques we've described. Therefore, science has not progressed sufficiently to alter the DNA of living people.

Quack Science

A number of companies claim that it's possible to change your DNA with emotional therapies, mind training and other courses of behaviour but this is false. There is nothing you can do with positive thinking or mental exercises to change your DNA. At best all you can achieve through such pursuits is a happier attitude or a healthier brain because that is the organ you use for meditation or mind training.

Therefore, if a company claims that they can change the DNA within your body to solve your problems, sadly they are deceptive, dangerous, deluded or all three of these.

Stem Cells Controversy

Both sides of the stem cells controversy are passionate about defending their positions. Before discussing stem cell research pros and cons it is important to understand the different types of stem cells and where they come from. Stem cells can come from three different sources. One source is from the bone marrow, peripheral blood vessels, or tissue of a person. Stem cells are even found in the heart and brain. The second source of stem cells is an umbilical cord. The third source is from a fertilized human egg. This last source is one of the most hotly debated parts of the stem cells controversy.

The pros of stem cell research include the possibility of curing devastating diseases or conditions like Parkinson’s, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and genetic defects. Proponents believe that stem cells can repair a damaged spinal cord or brain. There would be little risk of rejection if a transplanted organ came from the person’s own stem cells. Stem cells are thought to play an important role in cancer. Skin stem cell research will most likely result in the ability to regenerate skin and hair.

Arguments against stem cell research tend to have a more religious basis. On the con side of the stem cells controversy people are afraid that eventually we will be cloning humans, that we are acting like God, and that we are tinkering in areas where we have not fully considered the scientific, ethical and moral consequences. The most heated part of the stem cells controversy has to do with the destruction of a fertilized egg in order to harvest the cells. The cells often come from eggs that were fertilized in the laboratory for in vitro fertilization, but are now no longer needed. Some people see this as destroying a human life, even though that fertilized egg will never be implanted and grow into a person.

Top 10 Benefits of Skin Stem Cell Research

Scientists from one of the leading USA Universities reported a major breakthrough in the skin stem cell research in February of 2008 by discovering how to reprogram adult skin cells into cells with very similar properties of mesenchymal stem cells. These new stem cells offer a variety of skin stem cell research benefits and are going to take science into a new level of finding cures for thousands of incurable diseases.

Let’s review some of the benefits skin stem cell research can bring along in the future:

1. Skin stem cell research can turn adult skin cells into cells with miraculous embryonic stem cells properties without the moral disadvantages of destroying embryos in order to harvest such cells.

2. Newly reprogrammed stem cells can be coaxed to produce a bio-compatible organ or tissue virtually eliminating the possibility of transplant rejection by the host and necessity for the dangerous immune suppressant therapy that used to be necessary before skin stem cell research breakthrough.

3. Pros of stem cell research based on new findings finally outweigh the cons associated with using and later destroying a human embryo to harvest embryonic stem cells that are also short in supply. The newly reprogrammed adult stem cells provide abundant and ready available supply of mesenchymal stem cells to start saving lives.

4. Adult skin stem cell research is believed to have more predictable results due to the whole process being carried out in a more controllable environment compared to the embryonic stem cells, that some scientists consider unstable and potentially resulting in tumors.

5. Skin stem cell research along with umbilical cord stem cell therapy options are more likely to gain more public approval and attract more federal and private funding than embryonic stem cell research with its moral dilemma.

6. Not only new skin stem cell research eliminates the needs to destroy a human embryo, the process of obtaining new stem cells is more efficient and cost effective.

7. Since the new skin stem cell research offers opportunities to produce cells very close in the nature to the embryonic stem cells, this can become a solution to treat various dangerous diseases like diabetes, for example, by injecting a patient with newly programmed islet cells that can eventually start producing patient’s own insulin and eliminate the need for day to day glucose testing and insulin therapy.

8. New stem cell treatment for heart disease can also provide hope for thousands of people with heart conditions waiting on a donor list for an implant. Their own skin stem cells could be harvested to grow a new heart or its part to replace their failing ones.

9. Spinal cord injuries are another group of disabling conditions that can be repaired with the help of newly reprogrammed adult skin cells and enable people to start walking again.

10. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s diseases, brain injuries, strokes are just a few medical problems that can be amended by using skin stem cell research to grow new neuron cells necessary to cure such maladies.

The new skin stem cell research findings might still sound like a piece from your favorite sci-fi novel but it gives us hope that sometime in the future we can simply grow a replacement for a faulty organ, bone, muscle or tissue and go on enjoying our precious life again.

Top 10 Ways of Using Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Transplants

Umbilical cord blood is usually drawn from the umbilical cord after it had been detached from the newborn baby not causing any harm to the baby or mother. It’s believed to contain so called pure blood stem cells without the blood markers or antigens that can potentially be rejected by the recipient’s immune system. Extracted cord blood is then placed to a blood bank and frozen until future use. When the need arises, the umbilical cord blood stem cells are then injected intravenously into a patient’s blood stream to repair any damaged organ or tissue and create new and healthy cells.

The low cost, ease of extraction and lack of antigens in the umbilical cord blood makes it a unique way to be used for umbilical cord stem cell transplant therapy. Umbilical cord blood contains mesenchymal stem cells that are considered multipotent or are able to differentiate themselves into any tissue, bone, muscle or skin, and therefore be used to treat virtually any disease in the future. In addition, umbilical cord stem cell therapy does not raise a lot of controversy as with embryonic stem cell research, which some consider to be inhumane and murderous.

Umbilical cord stem cell transplant therapy promises to cure the following deadly diseases and conditions:

1. Type 1 diabetes is believed to be potentially cured by umbilical cord stem cell injection and help stimulate own insulin production.

2. Heart diseases and conditions, repairs to heart valves and tissues could benefit from umbilical cord stem cell therapies.

3. Injuries to the brain caused by trauma or stroke.

4. Cerebral palsy in children resulting from an injury during birth.

5. Umbilical cord stem cell transplants can treat bone marrow cancer or leukemia.

6. Variety of blood cell disorders like sickle cell anemia and others.

7. Metabolic system disorders.

8. Immunodeficiency conditions.

9. Spinal and neck cord injuries.

10. Osteopetrosis or a disease of hardening bones and formation of excessive bone mass.

With the expansion of umbilical cord stem cell therapy and President Obama lifting a ban on the stem cell lab work, stem cell research pros and cons are likely to continue gaining a lot of public attention in hope to finally find a cure for hundreds of deadly diseases.

Stem Cell Therapy – Top 10 Benefits For Mankind!

Within the last few years scientists focusing their work on stem cell therapy have accomplished greater progress by switching from studying controversial embryonic stem cell benefits to adult stem cell therapy and therapies involving umbilical cord stem cell samples received via cord blood banking process. According to their findings, adult stem cell therapy treatments have less chances of being rejected by a patient, therefore increasing his recovery rates. When using patient’s own skin stem cells, there’s no need to administer immune suppressing drugs as in instances of using embryonic stem cell therapy, which could be debilitating for the patient in the long run. In addition, adult stem cells are easier and less controversial to obtain, making this stem cell therapy a very promising medical field of research for the future. Let’s take a look at the top 10 benefits of adult stem cell therapy for mankind.
1. Anti-aging benefits of stem cell therapy is ability to live longer and enjoy life at the fullest even in your 80’s and 90’s. Stem cell injections could be your fountain of youth by restoring your organs, tissues and systems that get worn out over time as we age. No more saggy skin, achy joints, poor eyesight and weak heart, you can rejuvenate yourself and look and feel younger.

2. Diabetes benefits could be accomplished by injecting a patient with stem cells that have a potential to produce new islet insulin producing cells, therefore ending the need for blood glucose monitoring and insulin injections. Stem cell diabetes treatment focuses on newly diagnosed diabetes patients with poorly but still functioning pancreas to encourage its cure with stem cell therapy.

3. Transplantology benefits are numerous for people who have been waiting for years to find a suitable donor. With stem cell therapy there’s a potential to coax stem cells to grow into a new tissue or organ that is biocompatible to the transplant receiver virtually eliminating chances of organ rejection. The stem cell transplant taken from a patient’s own body called an autologous stem cell transplant can help people cure many deadly illnesses like myeloma and start living the life to the fullest.

4. Stem cell hair regrowth is a very promising field of medical science that will end hair loss struggle for male and female patients alike. Though, hair stem cell therapy is not very common at this point, the general theory suggests that in the future skin cell stems will be harvested from a patient’s hair producing follicles, implanted in bald areas and coaxed to produce new hair growing follicles, thus creating new hair growth.

5. Spinal cord injuries stem cell therapy is a very promising field of research that can help many para- and quadriplegic patients who are wheelchair bound and help them start walking again. Patients’ own stem cells harvested from bone marrow or other areas can be concentrated in a lab setting and later re-introduced into patients’ bodies in hopes to repair spinal cord tissues and restore mobility.

6. Stem cell for treating senile dementia and Alzheimer’s is one of the future benefits that this type of research can bring about. Though, the stem cell treatment to repair faulty neuron cells is still in the research phase, millions of Alzheimer’s sufferers can potentially get full of partial relief, or at least slow down the progression of this serious condition that brings so much pain to patients and their families.

7. Growing limbs for amputation patients is still a little farfetched and might not sound realistic but currently there’s a clinical trial going on at the University of Utah that focuses on using stem cell injections into patients with advanced vascular disease who are at a high risk of amputation. These stem cells can virtually create new and healthy blood vessels and save patients from the need of undergoing limb amputations.

8. Arthritis stem cell therapy is a huge benefit to humanity as currently there are over 40 million arthritis patients only in the US. Arthritis stem cell treatment can restore joint tissue by producing healthy joint tissue cells and end painful and debilitating condition.

9. Heart disease stem cell therapy is a revolutionary approach to treat a multitude of heart conditions ranging from congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy and other heart related diseases. The theory behind this treatment is harvesting mesenchymal stem cell from a patient’s own bone marrow and differentiating them to form new heart cells that are later placed into a patient’s heart to promote heart tissue repair.

10. Autism stem cell therapy is a godsend for millions of parents struggling to find a cure for their children. Stem cells injections are currently used to repair affected parts of the brain cells in countries like China and Mexico. While the stem cell therapy for autism is not commonly practiced in the US, the scientific research is widely conducted. Autism stem cell treatment should work on re-growing new and repairing existing cells of the gray and white matter of the brain.

Top 10 Swine Flu Side Effects

Swine flu side effects have been known to lead to serious complication which is why the swine flu panic has caused so much concern over the past few years. Whether a cough, sore throat, weakness, body aches, or fever, the swine flu side effects include similar symptoms of other influenza. However, swine flu side effects can be more intensive which will lead to deeper, more life threatening issues causing hospitalization, and sometimes even death.

The following are the top ten swine flu side effects:

1. For an expectant mother, the swine flu and pregnancy can possibly lead to a hospitalization due to various complications which include lung disease and pneumonia.

2. The swine flu side effects for children are also life threatening. Children suffering from the swine flu have an increased possibility of developing seizures due to the potential neurologic involvement of the disease.

3. With pneumonia being a common swine flu side effect, the need for oxygenation is increased for those suffering from severe cases of the disease.

4. Vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems associated with the swine flu will be the culprit of more serious issues like dehydration, which will have an effect on heart health and the circulatory system.

5. Kidney and urinary function is compromised when gastrointestinal issues like vomiting and diarrhea cause dehydration.

6. Due to the body’s natural disease combating potential, the immune system which is put into overdrive is highly affected by the swine flu.

7. Those with hypertension, or high blood pressure, are at risk when fever and dehydration is present as a result of a swine flu side effect. This will jeopardize one’s mortality, especially in the elderly suffering from the disease.

8. Children under 5 years of age, the elderly over 65, pregnant women, and others with various health issues are most at risk for suffering from swine flu side effects.

9. Those with asthma conditions, blood or liver disorders, neurological conditions, metabolic issues like diabetes, and neuromuscular disorders should take extra precautions against the threat of contracting the swine flu.

10. Disinfect home and work surroundings when illness seems to be creeping its way through family members or coworkers. Countertops, bathrooms, utensils, toys, remote controls, computer keyboards, and more are perfect surfaces where flu germs will find their next victim.

The Dna Testing Process

DNA testing is becoming increasingly used to determine genetic links between individuals as a highly accurate and individual way of identifying people and their relationships with one another. The process itself is one carried out in advanced laboratories under the strictest of lab conditions to ensure no cross-contamination and improve result accuracy. As such DNA testing can be said to present with a high degree of accuracy any particular biological relationship that may exist, particularly in paternity disputes where samples of both the mother and the father are provided.

Preparing For the DNA Test and Collecting Samples
Normally a DNA testing kit is sent to the person who ordered the test by the company from whom the order was made. The test begins with samples being collected from everyone preparing to undertake the test. In most cases, that will mean the mother, the father (alleged) and the child concerned. Samples are taken by the way of oral swabs, which collect cheek cells which are then dried and passed on for testing. In order to prepare the sample, it is first important to make sure that the cotton of the swab never touches any other surface including your hands, and that you have a number of swabs for each person taking the test to ensure reliability in the end results. Press the swab into the inside of the cheek and behind the lips, as well as the tongue area in order to get as good as possible a sample from the mouth. Having left to dry for around an hour, the swab should be carefully sealed off before the collation and mailing process.

Testing the Samples
After all the samples have been collected and labelled accordingly, they should be sent off to the laboratory for the DNA testing analysis. At this stage, the samples will be individually examined and DNA will be extracted from within the cells present in the sample. The same will be done for both the other two parties to the test and the results of the DNA profiles will be compared.

The person analysing your results will be looking for a 50/50 split between your alleles, contained within the DNA, between those found on your mother and father. As you can only inherit genes already carried by one or both parents, no alleles can be present in the child's DNA that are not present in that of either parent. Naturally, this is where it becomes obvious when there is and is not a genetic link between those taking the DNA test. Further to that, the results are processed through the appropriate systems and a conclusion is reached, having covered 16 of the locus which are used as the template by which samples are matched.

Receiving the DNA Test Results

Once the DNA test is completed, the result will be sent to the participants via email, letter, fax or as otherwise agreed. The DNA test report should show the individual profile of each person that submitted a sample for the paternity test. Also the result should show the percentage probability of the stated relationship, for example in a DNA paternity test this is normally in excess of 99.99%.

There's no doubt about it - DNA testing is here to stay. Whilst most people are not very knowledgeable on how DNA paternity testing works, it is probably a good idea to gain some level of understanding given the way in which DNA testing is likely to continue to affect our lives over the coming decades. With growing calls for more extensive DNA databases and records for crime prevention, DNA testing and analysis looks set to remain at the forefront of the civil liberties/state interests debate.