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Gene Dwi- 03-12-2009
Research
Utilizing gene therapy, researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario (Canada) report, for the first time, that they have successfully restored the ability to make vitamin C in a genetic strain of mice that no longer produces vitamin C as most animals do, suggesting a future day when this lost capability can be restored to humans. Utilizing a harmless virus as a vector (delivery agent), a working copy of the gulonolactone oxidase gene was re-inserted into mouse liver cells and their ability to naturally produce vitamin C was restored, enough to increase their blood levels by 6-fold in just four days, and within 23 days blood concentrations were 20-fold higher. Gene therapy was so effective, vitamin C levels in the genetically defective mice were similar to normal mice who naturally produce vitamin C throughout the day. Only a small number of animals, guinea pigs, fruit bats, primate monkeys and humans, do not produce vitamin C naturally by enzymatic conversion of blood sugar to ascorbate, the type of vitamin C that is continually produced in the liver of most animals. For example, a 160-pound goat, about the same weight as a human, will synthesize about 13,000 milligrams of vitamin C per day. Modern humans, by comparison, produce no vitamin C and consume only about 110 milligrams of vitamin C from their daily diet. Early hunter-gatherers who foraged for food are believed to have consumed around 640 mg of vitamin C per day from fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C deficiency is universal in humans and is caused by a single gene defect. This genetic defect is believed to have occurred long ago in human history and was transferred to all succeeding generations. The gene that makes the enzyme gulonolactone oxidase, which is currently found in all humans, is dysfunctional. This finding gives rise to speculation that early humans once produced their own vitamin C as most animals do today. While humans can consume vitamin C supplements to boost vitamin C blood levels, it is often difficult to achieve high concentrations needed to prevent or even treat disease. Researchers speculate that if the ability to continually synthesize vitamin C in humans could be restored, humans would likely live far longer, and experience fewer cataracts, gallstones, aneurysms (bulging blood vessels), as well as less cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Animals that produce vitamin C naturally live on average about 8–12 times beyond their age when childhood growth ceases. For comparison, humans live only 2–3.5 times beyond their age of physical maturation (~ age 18 years) and live about 60–75 years. This research suggests a day when humans might live hundreds of disease-free years of life. This report comes on the heels of recent studies showing intravenous vitamin C therapy may be promising for treatment of cancer. The mouse gene therapy study was published in an advanced online edition of Human Gene Therapy. Lead researcher Herb E. Schellhorn of the Department of Biology at McMaster University, said the future of this type of research may depend upon the acceptance of gene therapy altogether, since earlier gene therapy involving humans have been disappointing. But he reports researchers around the world are eager to learn more about his work and fellow researchers at McMaster University are vying to conduct further studies. Schellhorn is currently seeking funding to proceed with follow-up studies. http://www.lewrockwell.com/sardi/sardi91.html

Gene Dwi- 03-12-2009

The bottom line. Every being is a great experiment. Outside of identical twins (or clones), no two beings are exactly alike. We are different than other species because our DNA encodes different proteins, and we are different than other humans because our cells produce our proteins at different rates. The complexity in our DNA reduces to protein, its nature and how much our cells produce. Together inside each cell, our RNA molecules guide the process of manufacturing proteins using the genes that our unique DNA encodes. The next time you read a news story blaming a faulty gene for some medical condition, what they are really saying is that there is a problem with the instructions for making a human protein, probably an enzyme that controls some of the body chemistry. A missing enzyme is why we can't make vitamin C. As you read such stories, ask yourself whether megavitamin therapy might be an effective therapy that overcomes the defective gene, and why isn't medical science doing more to find out? http://www.internetwks.com/owen/gene.html

frank2008- 03-13-2009

everything you try on mice work. But when you try same thing on humans it works 100 times less and worse. Moreover I prefer to eat and orange that go through a genetic engineering of my organism. When they will restore human capability of producing gorgeouspil, that will be interesting.

Rayanna123- 03-13-2009

^ huh? and ty for the post Gene you sexy beast you! :P

TheATA1- 03-13-2009

I think defective human genes should be repaired. It is a pitty that one of our Ancestors stuffed up and did not bow down to the laws of natural selection. Obtaining vitamin C from foods is troublesome, Vitamin C increases the absorption of metals in foods such as aluminum, Iron (too much causes free radical generation), you should not consume Vit C when eating meat, only take vitamin C on a empty stomach or with non meat foods. Interesting artical gene, thankyou.