Look what I found! An article with Huge Implications for Our Understanding of Human Genetics
Look what I found! An article with Huge Implications for Our Understanding of Human Genetics (that Barely Made a Peep!)
Hello everyone! Here’s an article that furthers our understanding of what is happening within our genes on a daily basis. The article, titled Polθ reverse transcribes RNA and promotes RNA-templated DNA repair, was published in June 2021 in the journal Science Advances by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University.
“Polθ” refers to Polymerase Theta, a newly discovered class of enzymes within our cells that are able to transcribe RNA into DNA, challenging the long-held dogma that this exact phenomenon does not happen in mammalian cells. This exciting new discovery challenges us to question many of our long held beliefs (aka dogma) within the field of genetics.
For an “English” translation of this very technical science article, here’s a decent explanation in the SciTechDaily.com article titled, New Discovery Shows Human Cells Can Write RNA Sequences Into DNA – Challenges Central Principle in Biology.
According to SciTechDaily,
“Now, Thomas Jeffer/son University researchers provide the first evidence that RNA segments can be written back into DNA, which potentially challenges the central dogma in biology and could have wide implications affecting many fields of biology.”
“This work opens the door to many other studies that will help us understand the significance of having a mechanism for converting RNA messages into DNA in our own cells,” says Richard Pomerantz, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Thomas Jefferson University. “The reality that a human polymerase can do this with high efficiency, raises many questions.” For example, this finding suggests that RNA messages can be used as templates for repairing or re-writing genomic DNA.”
Indeed, this is a very exciting turn of events. Once again, I am humbled by what an incredible machine our mind-body system is. One idea I thought of to answer the question, “What is the significance of having a mechanism for converting RNA messages into DNA in our own cells?” is this:
We have co-evolved with nature around us. There is constant interaction down to our genes between us and our environment. When evolutionary intelligence deems it necessary, we have literally engulfed foreign “life” forms to become part of us.
A classic example of what I refer to is the Mitochondria. Mitochondria were originally very efficient energy producing prokaryotic bacteria, which were engulfed by precursors to our mammalian cells – the eukaryotic cells. Hence antibiotics routinely cause fatigue because our mitochondria are also nothing but primitive bacteria. Thus, whenever deemed necessary by evolutionary intelligence, our human genome has interacted with and “engulfed” other genomic material. Since in nature many life forms exist genetically as DNA and RNA, it makes sense that our cells have an in-built mechanism to translate all kinds of genetic material. One can only wonder about the “intelligence” that exists within us which decides what genetic material in nature is worth incorporating and what is not!
This research lends credence to an Ayurvedic wisdom,
“The microcosm (for eg: the human body) reflects the macrocosm (the entire universe, possible the multi-verse – for any quantum science nerds here).”
What are some other implications about this discovery? Especially, in light of another recent advancement in medicine the whole world is now familiar with, I am referring to the mRNA gene vaccine platforms. The dogma when this technology was introduced is that mammalian cells cannot convert RNA into DNA.
Clearly, this is not true now.
What are the implications of this new technology in light of this new information? Are we doomed to have the RNA fragment coding the spike protein within our DNA? Or will our innate intelligence be able to determine that this particular transcription is very harmful for us as a species?
I guess, time and more research will tell…