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Genomics unfolding – the story of building DNA understanding and practice

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

The explanation of what life is is said to be found in the DNA both human and nonhuman. The first (incomplete) sequencing of the human genome was done 10 years ago.

We are hearing all the time about modifying genes of plants, animals and even reconstructing old genes to make new plants and animals. Cloning of animals is a fact. Both knowledge and practice moves briskly along.

But the human DNA is proving harder to crack. The commercial promise is still there, but so far few people are doing business – the big activity seems to be research – and for a long time to come too.

We want to find the DNA sequence related to illnesses, develop drugs to correct the DNA flaws. Especially cancers have been a serious contender for developments. This process is not going speedily forward – the truth is hard to find. Is there more to human life than chemistry – is there more we need to know? What has happened to DNA over time – how has it developed? The time span is enormous – millions of years.

All human genomes are different – DNA from crime scenes can be used to determine who was there. If we could determine what is good DNA and what is bad DNA we could sort people according to their qualities, as well as fix their obvious faults. This kind of thinking is obviously scary!

DNA sequencing for humans can be done ever cheaper, but there is as of now fairly little we can use the sequence for. The promise of business is there so developments are going on.

We are now trying to find the DNA relations surrounding human health so that we can develop drugs to correct illnesses. From what we know now it already seems clear that not all illnesses are treatable by drugs. Diagnosis based on your DNA is not yet a reality, and the drugs are not there either.

But non-human genomics are thriving and/or progressing: fuels, agriculture, micro-organisms, animals, plants.

There is also discussion about patents and copyright: What is patentable?

Only time will tell – there is obvious promise – but is there more to it than we have now? DNA research will continue – it seems to be well funded – but we need more time to understand. Is the approach of cell processes correct – maybe it is more about systems, networks, life sciences.

Genomics will be coming to us all – soon.

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The future of the scientific or knowledgebased world

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

We have done much to improve the world. Science and technology has been used to increase wellbeing and prosperity for most people. But there are areas of dismay: there are about 1 billion poor and starving people and we are harming the globe in many ways for future generations.

Food production and consumption is an area where the present industrialized system can not go on. We are changing the face of the earth to produce food, often substandard, lots of food is wasted, and distribution systems leads to lack of food in many areas. Sustainable methods are lacking.

Many illnesses are still there, often due to lack of sanitation and clean water.

Education is not available for all, creating large differences.

Science now enters a new phase where systems, networks and interconnections are featured, and huge possibilities can be seen for development. New technology in the bio- and nano spheres are there.

But there seems to a growing difference of opinion about what is right and what we should do. There is no longer an authority that knows – the facts are disputed in every field. We can move into new territory, but we must solve the knowledge problem and establish what is right.

Science is about how things really are – there is one true way that things work and that is right – even allowing for complexity in systems.

The agreement about the future is no longer there.

New thinking about deep ecology, the money system and continually happening crises, health issues, poverty, terrorism, harming the Earth etc. is not integrated, not well enough known and simply not on peoples agendas.

People are talking about scams, hoaxes and there are spins and lobbying. There are many dangers and this creates fear.

Political, scientific, ethical, financial issues must be integrated. A collectivization of the new big ideas is needed – so that we can make a foundation for the future. Some say this is not possible.

The real state of knowledge makes this possible if enough of us want it. Dialogue must be improved, knowledge and enlightenment must be improved. The new authority is the thinking about what is right that we all share – our common platform of thought and action.

Posted in Deep ecology world, General, Science is knowledge, World Issues | No Comments »

We are systems – systems are us

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Deep ecology means accepting systems thinking in the sense that the processes taking place in the world follows a pattern or cyclus, and are interlinked and dependent upon each other. It is acceptable to see ecological thinking and systems thinking as the same.

Science has evolved in the same direction – scientific knowledge is increasingly seen as systems knowledge. Biological units are seen as systems, societies can be seen as systems. Things are placed together and they work together, they are connected, have relationships, fit in a context. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts alone. Analysis of detail is out and context is in.

Ecology means household – there are functional relationships between the parts of the biosphere – they have led to the Gaia systems view of the Earth.

Two new concepts are now firmly established: network and community. The old idea of web of life is coming back to us as it has to do with the interwovenness and interdependence of every phenomenon on Earth. Network models of cell systems and organs are used now and organisms are placed in hierarchies of nature. Networks also have nodes, and each node can be seen as an organism, all positioned in a larger system.

The systems concept of networks will lead us into the future!

Tags: network, system
Posted in Deep ecology world, Humans, Science is knowledge | No Comments »

Electronics entering your life – and body

Monday, May 31st, 2010

Developments within electronics and communication continues on many fronts – there is reason to be excited.

Electronic circuits are being built for several new purposes: flexible thin film circuits embedded in your body to monitor and control body processes and warn you, cheap plastic RFID for ubiquitous information in shops and homes, printed electronic circuits that can be crammed and folded, electronic ink, flexible and cheap screens to display whatever you need to know, smart textiles that can be changed by you or the temperature, smart packing that keeps goods in optimal condition and let you know all, analyzing equipment that gives you values about all things imaginable, robots of many kinds.

Coupled with wireless communication we are entering a new world where you and all things can interact.

Your home will increasingly be wired and equipped with logic circuits so you can control all functions: kitchen equipment remotely controlled, analysis of your health directly to your doctor or nutritionist, all kinds of sensors can be installed to inform of more than burglary and fire, automated shower, robots that can clean your house and use your washing machines, video communication, GPS tracking of family members – and the cat, smart toilets that can check your health and play the right music for you, a better home office, quicker contact with health personnel if need be.

Your imagination will be fired – you will be able to have more if you like – you will be master of your universe – partly remotely. Strange now maybe, but you will get used to it, like it and maybe depend upon it.

Posted in Science is knowledge, Telecosm | No Comments »

Is internet connection a commodity now?

Friday, May 28th, 2010

The infrastructure for the internet is slowly spreading and improving in quality and speed. Many countries now have a coverage of up to 70 % of all inhabitants with internet connections, and the internet is becoming a commodity, often free of charge. Many – most? – hotels, restaurants now offer internet connections, hotspots are cropping up everywhere. Planes and trains are planning internet connections, and cities are becoming fully covered by internet antennas. Mobile nets are becoming 4G nets fast.

The value is increasing all the time as new services are offered: what is not on the internet, what is it you can not do?

Mobile equipment is more and more internet enabled, including the dear TV-set, and users are downloading increasing amounts of data from the net. New business opportunities are legion, but the infrastructure builders in many places are worried about further investments as the pay-off is sometimes a bit into the future. Surely they will come around when they see the light?

Speeds of hundreds of Mb are becoming normal fare, and we can expect to see Gb speeds fairly soon. But watch it carefully: nations that do not follow up on this important aspect of future technology may be left behind. The EU has an ambitious directive for communication, and seems to have the muscle to pull it through.

So all is well – good progress is in the works. All-pervasive and fast internet – is there a business opportunity for you in there somewhere or just a more efficient life?

Tags: Gb, speed
Posted in Telecosm | No Comments »

Man made life – for humanity or profit?

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

News of man-made life! The work of creating synthetic DNA is progressing. Messrs. Smith and Ventner et. al. have made a bacteria with synthetic DNA only. The new cells can reproduce.

This is probably the beginning of a paradigm of creating life out of matter and information – many similar projects seems to be on the way as the techniques become practical and understanding deepens.

The theory of creating new life is slowly - 15 years in the making – becoming a reality and many areas of progress can be envisioned: man-made energy, drugs, plant, animals …..

The ethics are awesome: the positives must be the goal, the negatives must be avoided. Open attitudes are required – new avenues of progress are opened up.

This is both exciting and frightening.

Tags: DNA, information, paradigm
Posted in Deep ecology world, Humans, Science is knowledge | No Comments »

Thinking about your brain lately?

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Research into the functioning of the brain is going full steam – new discoveries are made all the time. What areas of the brain does what is better understood all the time. Research into biological computers may also influence how we see the brain. But basically we still know too little to say how the brain in a deep sense functions.

Your brain follows your development as a human being through your life. It changes and adapts as you grow, experience, learn and grow old. Your brain can be changed by accidents, illness, what happens to you in many ways, your learning.

We are probably born with some intelligence in our brain – fear of reptiles, ability to feel pain ….. Some people even say morality is inbred.

You develop a personality which is natural to you, but you can control that to some extent, and it can change through what happens to you.

We have senses – see, touch, hear, taste, smell and intuition (?). What comes through our senses is transformed via interfaces into signals to our body so they can be made useful to the body processes.

We have feelings of joy, pain, fright, wellbeing and probably deeper feelings too.

We can reason, deduct, combine. The brain can propel you into action.

There is memory that goes far back and some memory is recent.

We have consciousness – we can feel that we are, and some say what is right.

There is hidden activity and some say extrasensory activity.

The processes are complex, many have tried to explain the workings of the brain, e.g. Freud.

Food and exercise is deemed to influence the working of the brain.

The biology, mechanics, physics, anatomy of the brain is being researched into – future discoveries will be legion.

Science fiction literature like “Dune” shows us humans with specially developed brains that can act as computers, stimulants that can enhance the brain, coupling of brains via picture communication.

Watch this space – the brain is gradually becoming better understood.

So here is the challenge: Thinking of the brain as a tool – your main tool – how can you ensure that it is in good working order and performs impeccably? How can you improve it – that must be possible to do: exercise it, feed it, increase storage capacity, learn ever more stuff, improve your abilities, achieve better thought control ……

There is also the question of what is inherent capacity/DNA and what is free will?

Posted in Humans, Science is knowledge, Telecosm | No Comments »

Intelligent planet?

Monday, April 5th, 2010

We are placing intelligence like small computers, logic circuits, sensors, RFID into all things. We could interconnect these systems and make a totality of it.

Monitoring the temperature, air moisture, particles and gases in the air, speed of traffic, number of cars and people in many places, flow of water ….. are done routinely today.

Buildings, means of transport have computers, municipal systems can be monitored and controlled for a number of variables, appliances, your dress can have intelligence….

Hospitals, energy production, factories, chains of supply….

Your personal portal where you can find all about yourself – plan, control, anticipate, interact, automate, check efficiencies, economics ….

We have the monitors and intelligence in place as many things are digitally enabled and connected through the internet. Data are created continously and may be used for simulation, control, analysis, adaptation, starting and stopping, controlling efficiency and economics.

Money movements could be similarly controlled.

The running of everything can be made smooth: we can plan, predict, adjust, react via the systems.

How far should we go? Local systems for all with the possibility to connect into a world grid? Mandatory or voluntary?

We are moving in the direction of integration, efficiency, optimalisation – watch it – value creation for all must be upheld.

Tags: intelligent
Posted in Deep ecology world, Opinion, Telecosm | No Comments »

The systematics of biology – and you

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

We all hear about the work going on within the field of genomics and DNA sequencing – great hopes and some fears are coming up. According to some a new future is dawning.

But remember there are several more -omics in biology. There is a hierarchy of -omics, about 8 at the moment – they are fairly new and maybe more may be coming up. Proteomics and metabolics are two of these.

Proteomics is about proteins and the processes they are involved in in the body, and gives a better understanding of the functioning of the body. The genome of a man is almost constant, but the proteome is constantly changing depending on what you do, eat, etc.

Metabolics is the study of the metabolites in the body – there are probably about 3000 metabolites or sorts of substances at work in the body to a varying degree.These are being mapped now, upon which further study of their workings will follow.

The mechanics of the body and cells are there too – mechanome and mechanomics.

Both genomics, proteomics and metabolics may lead us to better understanding of human health, new lifestyles and medicines.

What about the physics side – surely there is a physics side to the bodily functions as well – physicanome and physicanomics – the quantum mechanics, currents, electromagnetic radiation of the system of cells, the circuits of the biological computers, the light going into your eyes? Maybe the cosmic powers, the memory and consciousness also belong here?

The broad systematic approach is already giving results – more will come – soon.

Posted in Humans, Opinion, Science is knowledge, Telecosm | No Comments »

Are we forgetting electromagnetic pollution?

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

The Earth’s magnetic fields are out there – always – and influencing our lives. The fields and radiation humans produce may influence us as well- some are static, others have a pulsed radiation.

Electromagnetic fields EMF and electromagnetic radiation EMR come in all sizes and shapes. Some of these fields and radiations are in the visible spectrum, others are invisible.

The spectrum of radiation is wide:

X-rays, radiation from nuclear activity, ultraviolet radiation,

visible rays

infrared, microwave, radio-waves, radar, mobile telephone, WIFI,

extra low frequency radiation ELF

If you look around you there are lots of uses:

battery driven equipment
homes full of electric equipment
electrics for industrial tasks
power rails for cranes, trains
power lines for distribution, transformers
detectors, door openers,
radio transmitters of many kinds
shortwave equipment, mobile telephones and their antennas,
radars, beacons, TV-towers
W-LAN-routers in your home and office
radio-controlled cars etc.
induction heating systems in industry and homes
radon
X-rays and other medical radiation
and more ……..

Do we see biological effects from this massive radiation – is there a risk of discomfort, illness or death? Electric pollution is no doubt present – we are taking part in a giant experiment! Nobody is at the moment checking the combined consequences of electric pollution – the evidence of damage is therefore slight.

Rules for admissible levels of radiation vary – it’s OK if you are not cooked (US) or it not OK if you feel discomfort (Russia).

The medical side is getting more attention. The Russians are active – they have found stress hormones, depressions, etc. US researchers have seen negative reactions in rats with levels of radiation that is lower than in an ordinary office, subliminal reactions are seen in people. The endocrine, metabolic and cardiovascular systems may be affected, as well as growth systems and immune response. Rumuors of cancer rates going up are found.

Military people are working on radiative weapons using pulsed radiation, big powerful antennas are found in many places. They are also using ELF extra low frequency signals of 30-100 Hz that have been shown to cause chronic stress and reduced disease resistance.

There are lots of available protection equipment for some of this radiation, but technical changes should be considered as to the way power lines, microwave antennas etc. are built.

Energy levels for all frequencies should be set, e.g. 100 microtesla for 50Hz. Magnetic fields in a typical house could be 0.1 microtesla.

Heating of tissue has been seen under the influence of radiofrequencies, and a value of 0.02 degree Celsius is allowed. Researchers in Sweden claim to have seen cancer as a consequence of radiation. Non thermal effects are not generally considered.

Electropollution may harm the the stability and functioning of the electric currents and magnetic fields in the body.

The precautionary principle is violated now – the trouble is that we can’t see, touch, hear, feel, taste, smell these signals.

We need transparency – measurement – follow up routines in this area!

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