Rorschach's Journal - 01/17/2010
As always, skip to the bottom, past the asterisks if you want to get around the big boring essay.
Micro RNA
We're at an incredibly important time right now and most people, in fact nearly all people, don't even know it. Just about everyone's heard of stem cell research but it's not necessarily the most promising biotechnology out there. It just happens to be something that the two liberal government parties decided to battle over.
Just recently discovered and spreading like wildfire throughout all spheres of biological research, especially human disorders research, the discovery of micro RNA has seemingly explained much of the mystery of the human body. Over 90% of DNA, the parts that don't have mapped genes, that was once though of as genetic "trash" now has been discovered to perform all sorts of small and large functions in the body. In humans if functions aren't performed correctly, the malfunctions lead to all sorts of disorders from Alzheimers and other mental disorders, to Leukemia, to various genetic disorders, to most of the various forms of cancers.
What started out as two studies, attempting isolation in a specific part the genetic code that causes a radical mutation in a popularly studied worm and the part that "prevents" the mutation, two research teams made complementary discoveries. What they found was that the sequencing for two separate small snips of RNA is the worm's DNA were exactly alike. One group found the the small piece of RNA that caused the mutation, the other found the part that fit against that part exactly and thus both research teams could mutually prove they had isolated this small bit of DNA. But the RNA chains were way too small to be classified as genes, which are larger segments, regions if you will, of DNA. Genes are too complex and turn on/off entire genetic traits in an organism so they must have long strings to program the complex proteins involved.
DNA 101
DNA stands for DeoxyRibonucleic Acid. Loosely, it means two sets of RNA or RiboNucleic Acid. So DNA strands are basically two complementary RNA strands that fit together exactly. Think of it like two rows of puzzle pieces that fit together. If you separate the rows so that you still have two rows but separated. In the middle, often dubbed the "rungs" of the ladder, the only other pieces that will fit must still have the same molecular "shape" as the opposing piece it just was separated from. When the strands are separated inside the cell, it's usually for two vital functions.
The first is protein manufacturing where amino acid molecules are thrown at the RNA strand and the various molecules fit against half-rungs and are assembled into precisely ordered strings. These strings of amino acids are the proteins and are the building blocks of our bodies. Only certain molecules can fit against each the half-rung on the RNA, much like how only two exactly complementary RNA strands can fit together to make DNA. There are mainly four types of rungs, I believe.
The second purpose of RNA is for mitosis, cellular reproduction (self-cloning). The reason why RNA exists as DNA, two complementary strands is so that when it's time for mitosis, the DNA is split back into it's two complementary RNA strands and each new cell gets half. Using one strand of RNA, each new cell's nucleus can thrown RNA molecules (nucleotides) against it until all spots are filled and again there is exactly a complementary strand, turning RNA molecules into a new string of RNA and the two strings in exact opposing harmony now make up a new DNA strand. (I wish finding a perfect mate was that easy...just step in to some mold and the result of the mold forms into the perfect companion, lol. )
So...back to it.
These two exactly complementary small RNA segments, now dubbed "microRNA," were originally located in the vast regions thought to be long segments of irrelevant DNA in between the extremely relevant gene DNA. Many prominent scientists thought that this DNA had no use even though they must have felt that it must be there for SOME reason. Well, it turned out in this particular worm, the spectacular mutation it had was caused by tiny segment of RNA that was only about 22 nucleotides long. And the other research team that found the segment of RNA that seemed to prevent the mutation...their segment was...also 22 nucleotides long and although was on a totally different area of DNA, the two segments fit together exactly.
Now it was apparent that this bit of RNA that made specific proteins could be regulated by this other bit because if that other bit was placed against it, it would fit and thus be closed off to making any more of it's particular protein. This was 1993. The two research articles were published back to back in a respected research journal and then ignored.
But then in other organisms like fruit flies and other simple, popularly studied organisms had their genetics mapped out and the same microRNA concept was found to also cause and fix mutations, often times spectacular ones. And then it was on, the scientists that discovered this started sending inquiries to researchers studying other organisms on a genetic level and even human cancer research scientists and it turned out important microRNA was present and EVERY SINGLE ORGANISM and in each organism the microRNA was responsible for all sorts of traits. And the crazy thing is, that first particular snippet of microRNA, called let-7 in the worm research, that exact sequence is present in a wide range of animal species and is responsible for all sorts of different functions in different organisms.
So here's the rub...
Now scientists in just about every biological field that involves genetics, from diseases, oncology, microorganisms, botany, whatever, now that they know they can look for this and also that DNA computer technology has advanced to the point where DNA can be mapped within a reasonable amount of time (like in a year or less), people can spot the microRNA by studying the tissue of a particular mutated subject and classifying it. Eventually all diseases caused by some sort of genetic problem like lupus, leukemia, various cancers, maybe spectrum autism, even old age can be mapped and then compared against the DNA in the tissue of another subject that does not show the problem.
Because the presense or lack thereof of certain microRNA, all of these disorders exist and are seemingly incurable. No simple chemical or therapy can cure complex protein regulation. But now that the disease/disorder can be mapped, it can not only be detected much earlier in a person, which is especially relevant when we're talking about diseases that occur in fetal to childhood development...BEFORE irreparable damage is made such as neural damage or lack of growth. And snippets of RNA can be synthesized and one day therapies will include RNA insertion that will help counteract the lack of RNA in the subject's DNA strand, potentially removing the problem as long as more RNA is introduced. (It won't fix the subject's faulty DNA though since that exists at the cellular level of every cell...yet.)
All of this is coming very soon. Right under our noses.
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So the old gaming shop in Pasadena here evidently is a new gaming shop that's bigger, badder and much improved. I used to love hanging out at Game Zone back in the day but now it's Game Empire, and like a real empire, they even took over the neighboring shop space, thus practically doubling in size.
Because of this, I've started to play Magic again. Strike that, I've started to buy Magic cards again. I'm not really doing that much playing yet; I'm mainly just collecting, sorting, trying to get all of the important cards for Standard and thinking up some sort of new deck idea. I hate playing net decks.
Man the art for this game, especially the hot chicks, is getting crazy. I think it would be fun to do some of these costumes, as evidently I know someone who is a pro costume maker, as SG sets. It would be expensive but so worth it! Only problem is keeping my hands off the girl when she's dressed up like a fave MTG character!
But one thing that's really awesome is they sell used RPG supplies, especially the books so all out-of-print books are available there, first come first served of course. That means all of the highly desirable, previous generation White Wolf books are there for Vampire: The Masquerade. So good! But looking at my last journal entry (very unpopular, lol) I got reminded of my old Gamer's Guild in high school and so I decided to pick up some books I once had:
The sweet thing is, the last four books I never had and had to borrow from others to read. I'm bidding on another 8 books on eBay and after that, I'll make a couple other purchases and should now have a full set! That Legends And Lore book is my favorite. I also loved that Unearthed Arcana book, both of which I had to borrow to read before.
Oh, and new BT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!1!11!!11one-eleventyone!
He splices in Enigma...pwn.
- R
As always, skip to the bottom, past the asterisks if you want to get around the big boring essay.
Micro RNA
We're at an incredibly important time right now and most people, in fact nearly all people, don't even know it. Just about everyone's heard of stem cell research but it's not necessarily the most promising biotechnology out there. It just happens to be something that the two liberal government parties decided to battle over.
Just recently discovered and spreading like wildfire throughout all spheres of biological research, especially human disorders research, the discovery of micro RNA has seemingly explained much of the mystery of the human body. Over 90% of DNA, the parts that don't have mapped genes, that was once though of as genetic "trash" now has been discovered to perform all sorts of small and large functions in the body. In humans if functions aren't performed correctly, the malfunctions lead to all sorts of disorders from Alzheimers and other mental disorders, to Leukemia, to various genetic disorders, to most of the various forms of cancers.
What started out as two studies, attempting isolation in a specific part the genetic code that causes a radical mutation in a popularly studied worm and the part that "prevents" the mutation, two research teams made complementary discoveries. What they found was that the sequencing for two separate small snips of RNA is the worm's DNA were exactly alike. One group found the the small piece of RNA that caused the mutation, the other found the part that fit against that part exactly and thus both research teams could mutually prove they had isolated this small bit of DNA. But the RNA chains were way too small to be classified as genes, which are larger segments, regions if you will, of DNA. Genes are too complex and turn on/off entire genetic traits in an organism so they must have long strings to program the complex proteins involved.
DNA 101
DNA stands for DeoxyRibonucleic Acid. Loosely, it means two sets of RNA or RiboNucleic Acid. So DNA strands are basically two complementary RNA strands that fit together exactly. Think of it like two rows of puzzle pieces that fit together. If you separate the rows so that you still have two rows but separated. In the middle, often dubbed the "rungs" of the ladder, the only other pieces that will fit must still have the same molecular "shape" as the opposing piece it just was separated from. When the strands are separated inside the cell, it's usually for two vital functions.
The first is protein manufacturing where amino acid molecules are thrown at the RNA strand and the various molecules fit against half-rungs and are assembled into precisely ordered strings. These strings of amino acids are the proteins and are the building blocks of our bodies. Only certain molecules can fit against each the half-rung on the RNA, much like how only two exactly complementary RNA strands can fit together to make DNA. There are mainly four types of rungs, I believe.
The second purpose of RNA is for mitosis, cellular reproduction (self-cloning). The reason why RNA exists as DNA, two complementary strands is so that when it's time for mitosis, the DNA is split back into it's two complementary RNA strands and each new cell gets half. Using one strand of RNA, each new cell's nucleus can thrown RNA molecules (nucleotides) against it until all spots are filled and again there is exactly a complementary strand, turning RNA molecules into a new string of RNA and the two strings in exact opposing harmony now make up a new DNA strand. (I wish finding a perfect mate was that easy...just step in to some mold and the result of the mold forms into the perfect companion, lol. )
So...back to it.
These two exactly complementary small RNA segments, now dubbed "microRNA," were originally located in the vast regions thought to be long segments of irrelevant DNA in between the extremely relevant gene DNA. Many prominent scientists thought that this DNA had no use even though they must have felt that it must be there for SOME reason. Well, it turned out in this particular worm, the spectacular mutation it had was caused by tiny segment of RNA that was only about 22 nucleotides long. And the other research team that found the segment of RNA that seemed to prevent the mutation...their segment was...also 22 nucleotides long and although was on a totally different area of DNA, the two segments fit together exactly.
Now it was apparent that this bit of RNA that made specific proteins could be regulated by this other bit because if that other bit was placed against it, it would fit and thus be closed off to making any more of it's particular protein. This was 1993. The two research articles were published back to back in a respected research journal and then ignored.
But then in other organisms like fruit flies and other simple, popularly studied organisms had their genetics mapped out and the same microRNA concept was found to also cause and fix mutations, often times spectacular ones. And then it was on, the scientists that discovered this started sending inquiries to researchers studying other organisms on a genetic level and even human cancer research scientists and it turned out important microRNA was present and EVERY SINGLE ORGANISM and in each organism the microRNA was responsible for all sorts of traits. And the crazy thing is, that first particular snippet of microRNA, called let-7 in the worm research, that exact sequence is present in a wide range of animal species and is responsible for all sorts of different functions in different organisms.
So here's the rub...
Now scientists in just about every biological field that involves genetics, from diseases, oncology, microorganisms, botany, whatever, now that they know they can look for this and also that DNA computer technology has advanced to the point where DNA can be mapped within a reasonable amount of time (like in a year or less), people can spot the microRNA by studying the tissue of a particular mutated subject and classifying it. Eventually all diseases caused by some sort of genetic problem like lupus, leukemia, various cancers, maybe spectrum autism, even old age can be mapped and then compared against the DNA in the tissue of another subject that does not show the problem.
Because the presense or lack thereof of certain microRNA, all of these disorders exist and are seemingly incurable. No simple chemical or therapy can cure complex protein regulation. But now that the disease/disorder can be mapped, it can not only be detected much earlier in a person, which is especially relevant when we're talking about diseases that occur in fetal to childhood development...BEFORE irreparable damage is made such as neural damage or lack of growth. And snippets of RNA can be synthesized and one day therapies will include RNA insertion that will help counteract the lack of RNA in the subject's DNA strand, potentially removing the problem as long as more RNA is introduced. (It won't fix the subject's faulty DNA though since that exists at the cellular level of every cell...yet.)
All of this is coming very soon. Right under our noses.
******************************************************************************************
******************************************************************************************
So the old gaming shop in Pasadena here evidently is a new gaming shop that's bigger, badder and much improved. I used to love hanging out at Game Zone back in the day but now it's Game Empire, and like a real empire, they even took over the neighboring shop space, thus practically doubling in size.
Because of this, I've started to play Magic again. Strike that, I've started to buy Magic cards again. I'm not really doing that much playing yet; I'm mainly just collecting, sorting, trying to get all of the important cards for Standard and thinking up some sort of new deck idea. I hate playing net decks.
Man the art for this game, especially the hot chicks, is getting crazy. I think it would be fun to do some of these costumes, as evidently I know someone who is a pro costume maker, as SG sets. It would be expensive but so worth it! Only problem is keeping my hands off the girl when she's dressed up like a fave MTG character!
But one thing that's really awesome is they sell used RPG supplies, especially the books so all out-of-print books are available there, first come first served of course. That means all of the highly desirable, previous generation White Wolf books are there for Vampire: The Masquerade. So good! But looking at my last journal entry (very unpopular, lol) I got reminded of my old Gamer's Guild in high school and so I decided to pick up some books I once had:
The sweet thing is, the last four books I never had and had to borrow from others to read. I'm bidding on another 8 books on eBay and after that, I'll make a couple other purchases and should now have a full set! That Legends And Lore book is my favorite. I also loved that Unearthed Arcana book, both of which I had to borrow to read before.
Oh, and new BT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!1!11!!11one-eleventyone!
He splices in Enigma...pwn.
- R
You sir are well versed...