Shahrzad+R.

=Genetic Engineering & Climate Change= Post Number: 1 Post date: October 23rd, 2015

Many researchers have thought about genetically engineering crops and food animals to improve climate change, but what if we genetically engineered human biology to combat climate change?

In 2012, bioethicist Matthew Liao wrote a paper proposing numerous possible genetic alterations. The first proposal was night vision. Humans would be genetically engineered to have more rods in order to improve our sight at night. This would reduce our reliability on electric lights. Liao also suggested inducing an allergy to meat in order for people to reduce their consumption of animal products. 14.5% of greenhouse gas pollution comes from livestock. The problem is, if meat was consumed by a genetically modified human that was allergic to meat, they would experience severe allergic reactions. Not only that, but most people would not be willing to give up animal consumption. Next, if humans were bred shorter, we would require less energy consumption and resources. Liao also suggests cognitive enhancement to decrease the number of children one has. He proposes giving people access to Ritalin and Modafinil to increase their cognitive ability. He also has the idea to give hormones like Oxytocin and Serotonin to people in order to decrease testosterone, making them in order to make them more amenable and negotiating.

Unfortunately, these proposals come with a lot problems and controversy. The point is, if we genetically engineer our species in different ways, we can possibly find a solution to climate change.



Below is a video discussing Matthew Liao's proposals regarding to altering human genetics. media type="custom" key="27939865" align="center"

Further Reading:

[] - Further reading on genetics being the key to climate change solutions

[] - Matthew Liao's proposals explained in depth on altering human genetics

[] - Further reading on genetically engineered crops and how they can possibly benefit climate change.

[] - Many different ways we could combat climate change by engineering the human body.

Sources Cited:

http://gizmodo.com/meanwhile-in-the-future-to-stop-climate-change-we-mus-1733583113 http://video.huffingtonpost.co.uk/human-engineering-should-we-change-our-bodies-to-battle-a-warmer-climate-517513853 http://realitynews.international/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/GeneticEngineering_040913-617x416.jpg http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Fm1DeEUz--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/1452250761422319022.png http://www.livescience.com/42093-genetics-and-climate-adaptation.html http://hdcdnsun2.r.worldssl.net/sites/www.hypnosisdownloads.com/themes/hypnosisnew/images/new/brain-chemicals.jpg **Gene Editing with CRISPR-Cas9**

**Post #2**

 * November 20th, 2015**

CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. These are components of a system used by bacteria to defend invading viruses. Cas9 is one of the enzymes produced by this system. It binds to specific regions of the DNA and cuts it, allowing for these regions to be manipulated. Researchers take great advantage of this enzyme to edit genes because of its preciseness and low cost.

Researchers in China are the first to use this gene editing tool to produce super-muscled dogs. Their goal is to create test subjects that imitate degenerative human diseases. These scientists disrupted the myostatin gene in beagles, which doubled their muscle mass. The beagles are similar to super-muscled Belgian blue cattle and whippet dogs, both of which have been bred in a way that they “naturally” suppress myostatin production at the genetic level. When the myostatin gene is interfered with, the body stops producing the muscle-inhibiting protein created by the gene, resulting in extra muscle mass.

The purpose of this experiment was to create dogs with DNA mutations similar to Parkinson’s and muscular dystrophy. Researcher Liangxue Lai from the Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology at the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedical Health states that dogs are very close to humans in terms of metabolic, physiological, and anatomical characteristics. “The goal is to explore an approach to the generation of new disease dog models for biomedical research.”



Although it is currently illegal to use CRISPR on human subjects, scientists hope to eventually treat degenerative disorders in humans with similar methods.

media type="youtube" key="2pp17E4E-O8" width="560" height="315" This video demonstrates how CRISPR Cas9 is used in genetic editing, providing clarification to the subject.


 * Further Reading**

This article provides further information on the dogs that were genetically modified: [|http://www.technologyreview.com/news/542616/first-gene-edited-dogs-reported-in-china/]

This article gives an in-depth explanation of CRISPR-Cas9 and discusses the ethical issues on the

subject: [|http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2015/11/17/gene-editing-new-frontiers/]

This article talks about the experiments with CRISPR performed in China and the controversy that comes with them: []

This article is about an international team of researchers that have identified potential alternatives to Cas9: []


 * Sources Cited **

[] [] [] [|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pp17E4E-O8#action=share] [] []

**Migraines**

**Wikipost #3** **January 17th, 2016**



Migraine attacks are chronic headaches that occur a few times a year, or as many as several times per month. They typically affect only one side of the head, having a pulsing quality to them. Migraines are usually associated with symptoms such as nausea, light and/or sound and/or scent sensitivity. Migraines affect 12% of the world’s population at least once a year. Women are three times more likely to develop migraines than men. Stress, deranged sleep schedule, menstruation, and even change in air pressure are only a few of the common migraine triggers.

The sensitivity occurs in 2/3 of patients with migraines and is caused by a condition called allodynia. There have been many theories in regards to what exactly causes a migraine to occur. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that will decrease immensely during migrain es. It has also been proven that the trigeminal nerve system – which is the brain’s primary pain pathway – has a lot to do with migraines and their symptoms. When CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) is released from the trigeminovascular nerves, it is a powerful vasodilator of cerebral blood cells, as well as a pain signalling transmitter. When the levels of CGRP rise in jugular blood, a migraine occurs. People who are susceptible to migrai nes usually are sensitive to this peptide. At the onset of a migraine, CGRP levels increase and sensitize the trigeminal nerve to what are normally harmless signals. This results in the inflammation in the verves, also known as a pain signal. Because of this, a person experiencing a migraine attack will become extremely sensitive to light, sound, and smell. The neuronal production of CGRP will also increase when the hormone corticotrophin is released. These hormonal secretions occur when the body is responding to stress, which is in fact a common migraine trigger.

But what if this particular peptide could be blocked? There have been many treatments for migraines such as nerve-numbing injections, behavioural therapies, special diets, natural remedies, and medications such as triptans. These treatments are not always effective. Triptans medications are to be taken once a migraine has already began its course. They do not prevent the migraine from occurring. However, scientists have potentially discovered a new treatment: antibodies. These antibodies will either bind to the CGRP molecule or block its receptor which increases during a migraine. CGRP-binding antibodies help reduce migraine symptoms by getting rid of excess peptide or preventing it from binding to and activating cells. Although this recent treatment has shown significantly positive results in patients, the blocking of CGRP may also cause stroke and cardiac ischemia. It may take a while for this treatment to go on the market, but it is definitely a potential cure to migraines.

media type="youtube" key="N8TzqrRbPlY" width="560" height="315" Here is a video done by Hank Green that includes general information about migraines such as symptoms, causes, triggers, and treatments.


 * Further Reading:**

[] This is a scientific journal describing possible causes of migraines.

[|http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-nerve-drugs-may-finally-prevent-migraine-headaches/#] An article including the history of migraines, more on CGRP, as well as other treatments.

[] An article with more information on migraines in general.

[] This is an archive of journals written by Dr. Mauskop & his findings/ research on migraines and other related conditions such as cyclical vomiting syndrome.

[] This article includes types of headaches, how migraines are diagnosed, and treatments.


 * Sources Cited:**

[] [] [|http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-nerve-drugs-may-finally-prevent-migraine-headaches/#] [] [] [] [|http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-21/there-s-hope-beyond-botox-as-pharma-races-for-first-migraine-fix#media-1] []