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Originally Posted by Downthestretch55
Wow Pgardn,
You put out a lot of different ideas in this thread.
Yes, cells are preprogammed to die. It varies but mitosis is limited.
White cells (immune system) are still a puzzle. If we could understand T connects, HIV-Aids would have a cure. We're not there yet.
Anti bodies and encoding for them is something I don't know much about.
My interest is in "triggering" genes like fgf 15, fgf 8, and others that program the cell for development after the stem stage. White cells are much further along, like other differentiated cells.
It's interesting to me that some of the same triggering genes play a role in cancers (retinal, and neural) as cardio. At this point, it's good that the markers exist to track them. Beyond that, it's a long way to organ production. Imagine if one's own skin cells could be used to regenerate a heart or liver, or any diseased organ. There would be no need for anti-immune therapy. One's replacement organ could be grown and implanted without the risk of rejection.
We have a long way to go. Seems to me that creating stem cells from skin cells is a huge step forward. New findings will be realized soon.
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I am always hopeful and skeptical in medicine. So many times in my life we have found an all encompassing cure. I will never forget interferon. When I was late in my studies at UT everyone was saying interferon was it. We found the magic bullet. Going on 30 years later...
Part of the reason I decided to teach classical Physics. Biology is so damned hard. Its is so incredibly complicated. One really has to make it a thematic class, or take the easy way out and just have kids memorize a whole new vocabulary and pretend like you have taught them something.
Classical Physics is as beautiful and clean as it gets.
06-07-2007, 05:43 PM
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