DNA, Genes, Epigenetics

Vocabulary

biological (or genetic) determinism, chromosomes, DNA, epigenetics, genes, “junk DNA” / “biology’s dark matter” / non-coding DNA, molecule, nucleic acid, RNA, telomeres

1. BIOLOGICAL (or GENETIC) DETERMINISM — The disproven theory that genes are the cause of characteristics such as disease and health conditions
2. CHROMOSOMES — The structures inside a cell’s nucleus that house DNA (source)
3. DNA — Molecules (located within the nucleus of each cell in the human body) that include genes 
4. EPIGENETICS — Literally “above” or “beyond the control” of the gene; the science of how environment (particularly lifestyle) impacts genes
5. GENES — Comprise about 1% of DNA, carry instructions; about 20,000 in every cell of the human body
6. “JUNK DNA” / “BIOLOGY’S DARK MATTER” / NON-CODING DNA— Names given to the 98 to 99% of DNA whose functions Western academics claim is mysterious despite research by American scientist Dr. Rein and Russian scientist Pjotr Gajajev providing evidence that DNA is programmed by words and vibrations, profoundly impacting our health and well-being
7. MOLECULE — Composed of atoms; the smallest bit of a substance that retains all the properties of the substance (ex: water molecules, oxygen molecules, DNA, RNA)
8. NUCLEIC ACID — Another name for DNA and RNA; the information-carrying molecules of the cell (source)
9. RNA — A molecule that attaches to a gene when the gene is “switched on,” carrying out many functions including transporting and converting information to create proteins (source) and (source)
10. TELOMERES — A part of chromosomes that serve a stabilizing role (source), protecting the ends “from being frayed or tangled” (source); telomere damage (including when shortened) indicates disease progression (source)

Key Points

These key points and more are covered in detail below.

1. 1. “What determines whether a cell is a skin cell or a brain cell or a heart cell is which genes are turned on and off.” (source)
   2. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, mainstream scientists were wrong about the role and functioning of genes, believing they were a “blueprint” for a person’s biology. This was proven incorrect by the Human Genome Project completed in 2003. Genes are better understood as potentialities. They express differently based on their environment.
   3. The implications of the “blueprint” belief were profound and long-lasting. Western medicine mistakenly believed that disease was due to genetic inheritance, propagating a belief in fated outcomes.
   4. Diseases may run in the family, but not because of genes. The presumption that conditions that seemed to “run in the family” were due to genetic inheritance overlooked all the other things that family members may share like the food they eat, the toxins in their water, the electro-magnetics in their area, the chemicals in their cleaning products, the way they deal with emotions, their stress levels and so on.
   5. So the question became: if genes don’t cause disease, then what does? Research shows that lifestyle choices directly affect how genes express, and thus our experience of wellness and illness. This is called epigenetics, a term that literally means “above” or “beyond the control” of the gene. Epigenetics is the science of how environment (especially nutrition, exercise, stress relief and so on) impacts genes.