How Life Generates New Forms

A new study has found which type of gene regulation is most likely to generate evolutionary change. A team in Switzerland demonstrated that gene regulation by transcription powers evolutionary change most effectively. This team's previous work also showed that robustness and evolvability, which are two traits that are key to evolution. Robustness refers to the ability to function relatively normally despite mutations, while evolvability relates to the ability to adapt to mutations. What this means is that transcriptional regulation plays a major role in evolution.

What I wonder is whether or not transcriptional regulation affects the time required for evolution, and whether or not this can be manipulated. I understand it would certainly be a hot topic if scientists found a way to speed up evolution and it is probably just my imagination thinking up interesting scenarios. However, when we consider how crazy people in the 1800s would go if they saw an Iphone we are reminded how far we have come technologically in such a short period of time. With that in mind is it really that crazy to think this breakthrough couldn't somehow lead to the control of evolution, especially when you consider what CRISPR allows us to do.

Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180412102933.htm

Second Link: https://www.upi.com/Study-pinpoints-type-of-gene-regulation-essential-to-evolution/8411523551092/

Vitamin D influences genes

              Research has found that vitamin D influences about 200 genes. Vitamin D is from the exposure of the sun. One billion of people in the world do not have enough amount of vitamin D from the sun. It is also found that vitamin D increases a person’s susceptibility to autoimmune conditions such as diabetes type 1. Vitamin D interacts with our DNA because vitamin D receptor is a protein that is only activated by vitamin D. It attached to DNA and influences which proteins are created from our genetic code. Along the length of the genome, 2,776 binding sites found for vitamin D receptor.  At least 229 genes are effects by vitamin D. Research has also found that light skin and hair color evolved in populations moving to areas with less sun. Lacking vitamin D negatively affects bone development in pregnant mothers which is fatal to the mother and the baby. Vitamin D is not naturally found in foods, unlike other vitamins that can be found in food. One must sit in the sun for at least 15 minutes per day to receive accurate vitamin D. There are two type of vitamin D: Vitamin D₂  and D₃ which are both found sunlight. 

                Vitamin D deficiency can kill you quicker. The type of cancers that vitamin D deficiency causes are breast, prostate and column. Copenhagen City heart study has found that “genes with low vitamin D had a mortality rate that is 30% higher and 40% higher cancer-related death”. Low vitamin D also has a higher chance of brain damage after cardiac arrest.

Link 1:http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/news/20141119/low-levels-of-vitamin-d-may-raise-early-death-risk-study

Related link: http://www.medicaldaily.com/vitamin-d-deficiency-can-kill-you-quicker-why-sunshine-vitamin-essential-your-health-311254