Cooperation in the Genome
from page 45 in Bruce Lipton's recently published
"The Biology of Belief:"
(highly recommended_
..."Today's understanding of cooperation in nature goes much deeper than the easily observable ones. 'Biologists are becoming increasingly aware that animals have coevolved, and continue to coexist, with diverse assemblages of microorganisms that are required for normal health and development, according to a recent article in Science called 'We Get By With A little Help From Our (Little) Friends.' [Ruby et al, 2004]/ The study of these relationships is now a rapidly growing field called 'Systems Biology."
Ironically, in recent decades we have been taught to wage war against microorganisms with everything from anti-bacterial soap to antibiotics. But that simplistic message ignores the fact that many bacteria are essential to our health...
Recent advanced in genome science have revealed an additional mechanism of cooperation among species. Living organisms, it turns out, actually integrate their cellular communities by sharing their genes. It had been thought that genes are passed on only to their progeny... Now scientists realize that genes are shoared not only among the individual members of a species, but also among members of different species. The sharing of genetic information via _gene transfer_ speeds up evolution since organisms can acquire 'learned' experiences from other organisms. [Nitz, et al, 2004; Pennisi 2004, Boucher, et al, 2003; Dutta and Pan, 2002;l Cogarten 2003] Given this sharing of genes, organisms can no longer be seen as disconnected entities; there is no wall between species. Daniel Drell, managed of the Department of Energy's microbial genome program, told 'Science' in (2001 294:1634): "...we can no longer comfortably say what is a species anymore." [Pennisi 2001]
... For instance, tinkering with the genes of a tomato may not stop at that tomato, but could alter the entire biosphere in ways that we cannot foresee. Already there is a study that shows that when humans digest genetically modified food, the artificially created genes transfer into and alter the character of the beneficial bacteria in the intestine. [Heritage 2004; Netherwood, et al, 2004] Similarly, gene transfer among genetically engineered agricultural crops and surrounding native species has given rise to highly resistant species deemed superweed. [Milius 2003; Haygood, et al 2003; Desplanque, et al, 2002; Spencer and Snow 2001] Genetic engineers have never taken the reality of gene transfer into consideration when they have introduced genetically modified organisms into the environment. We are now beginning to experience the dire consequences of this oversight as their engineered genes are spreading and altering other organisms in the environment [Watrud, et al, 2004]
Genetic evolutionists warn that if we faily to apply the lessons of our shared genetic destiny... we threaten human existence.
"The Biology of Belief:"
(highly recommended_
..."Today's understanding of cooperation in nature goes much deeper than the easily observable ones. 'Biologists are becoming increasingly aware that animals have coevolved, and continue to coexist, with diverse assemblages of microorganisms that are required for normal health and development, according to a recent article in Science called 'We Get By With A little Help From Our (Little) Friends.' [Ruby et al, 2004]/ The study of these relationships is now a rapidly growing field called 'Systems Biology."
Ironically, in recent decades we have been taught to wage war against microorganisms with everything from anti-bacterial soap to antibiotics. But that simplistic message ignores the fact that many bacteria are essential to our health...
Recent advanced in genome science have revealed an additional mechanism of cooperation among species. Living organisms, it turns out, actually integrate their cellular communities by sharing their genes. It had been thought that genes are passed on only to their progeny... Now scientists realize that genes are shoared not only among the individual members of a species, but also among members of different species. The sharing of genetic information via _gene transfer_ speeds up evolution since organisms can acquire 'learned' experiences from other organisms. [Nitz, et al, 2004; Pennisi 2004, Boucher, et al, 2003; Dutta and Pan, 2002;l Cogarten 2003] Given this sharing of genes, organisms can no longer be seen as disconnected entities; there is no wall between species. Daniel Drell, managed of the Department of Energy's microbial genome program, told 'Science' in (2001 294:1634): "...we can no longer comfortably say what is a species anymore." [Pennisi 2001]
... For instance, tinkering with the genes of a tomato may not stop at that tomato, but could alter the entire biosphere in ways that we cannot foresee. Already there is a study that shows that when humans digest genetically modified food, the artificially created genes transfer into and alter the character of the beneficial bacteria in the intestine. [Heritage 2004; Netherwood, et al, 2004] Similarly, gene transfer among genetically engineered agricultural crops and surrounding native species has given rise to highly resistant species deemed superweed. [Milius 2003; Haygood, et al 2003; Desplanque, et al, 2002; Spencer and Snow 2001] Genetic engineers have never taken the reality of gene transfer into consideration when they have introduced genetically modified organisms into the environment. We are now beginning to experience the dire consequences of this oversight as their engineered genes are spreading and altering other organisms in the environment [Watrud, et al, 2004]
Genetic evolutionists warn that if we faily to apply the lessons of our shared genetic destiny... we threaten human existence.