Evolution's mysterious ways

Skybird · 09-05-07, 04:54 AM

http://www.focus.de/gesundheit/ratge...id_131768.html
(German)

The article says:

The genes causing sickle cell aneamia - protect against Malaria, that's why this disease is so wide-spread in malaria regions. A mutation protecting against cystic fubrosis - also protects against cholera. It seems that evolution sometimes pushes through genetic "defects" because there is some benefit from them.

A team in Canada now have examined 76 DNA sequences that are understood to play a possible role in schizophrenia. They compared these to other, randomized probes of DNA. What they found is that over one third of the schizophrenia related DNA seqeunces showed significantly less random variatioins (to be found in all genes), as was to be seen in the "noraml" genes. What means nothign else than that evolution actively tries to protect these genes.

Amongst these 28 samples that showed less variation, three genes are known for being responsible for playing a major role in man's evolution concerning forming brain structures of higher complexity, and who have chnaged more drastically during man's evolution than most other genes. Psychiatrists know that people with schizophrenia show significantly more signs of higher developed creativity than "normal" people.

Currently, one in a hundred of world population is schizophrenic (tendency rising).

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In a different context: it was said that man tends to rate every animal and plant whose meaning for the ecological system he does not understand, as a "pest". seen from that perspective, maybe we must chnage our understanding of what "disease" is, to a wider degree than we imagine.

09-05-07, 04:54 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,645 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Evolution's mysterious ways http://www.focus.de/gesundheit/ratge...id_131768.html (German) The article says: The genes causing sickle cell aneamia - protect against Malaria, that's why this disease is so wide-spread in malaria regions. A mutation protecting against cystic fubrosis - also protects against cholera. It seems that evolution sometimes pushes through genetic "defects" because there is some benefit from them. A team in Canada now have examined 76 DNA sequences that are understood to play a possible role in schizophrenia. They compared these to other, randomized probes of DNA. What they found is that over one third of the schizophrenia related DNA seqeunces showed significantly less random variatioins (to be found in all genes), as was to be seen in the "noraml" genes. What means nothign else than that evolution actively tries to protect these genes. Amongst these 28 samples that showed less variation, three genes are known for being responsible for playing a major role in man's evolution concerning forming brain structures of higher complexity, and who have chnaged more drastically during man's evolution than most other genes. Psychiatrists know that people with schizophrenia show significantly more signs of higher developed creativity than "normal" people. Currently, one in a hundred of world population is schizophrenic (tendency rising). --- In a different context: it was said that man tends to rate every animal and plant whose meaning for the ecological system he does not understand, as a "pest". seen from that perspective, maybe we must chnage our understanding of what "disease" is, to a wider degree than we imagine. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.