DNA: The Road Of Discovery

I ventured down a road of discovery when only one trail was available. Genetics research at the turn of the 20th century was like the early days of the gold rush, a maddening crowd with simple picks chopping away at the genome. But little did we know the magnitude of her complexity, honed by millions of years of creation. One hundred thousand genes became 30,000. The rule 'one gene, one protein' became obsolete. The stability of gene expression is now but a figment of imagination. Epigenomics* moves in - like a new kid on the block - all eyes turn toward her.

Who is she?

How does she shape our realities - our worldviews - our thoughts and feelings and behavior through the ages?

Can we talk about her when so little is known?

We boasted and argued the Nature-Nurture debate for decades, touting evidence right and left for 'genes causing this' 'genes causing that'. Behavior genetics supplanted Skinnerian behaviorism, putting genetic causation above environment.

Eugenics gave it a bad name and built upon a façade of prejudice; but the striving for power and superiority always tumbles in the Truth of our equality.

DNA structure identified, the genome mapped, tools of discovery abundant, but knowledge fades to a sliver as the Vast Unknown becomes more apparent.

In each discovery - each Aha! moment - an infinite unknown or Mystery arises to again be chipped away bit by bit. Around every corner, there is a new neighborhood.

At times in science, they say there are no more answers to uncover - that all the questions have been asked. Perhaps that is said by those unwilling to look - wanting, no, striving - for an end to the Mystery; unable to deal with the distress she causes.

When her Infinite Nature is realized - touched without striving to 'box her in' - an enthusiasm to chip away at the pieces gives a new generation a chance to know her Beauty.

We see only as far as our mind is willing to look. Fear keeps us on the safe ground of reason - sturdy, predictable, secure. But sometimes we are pushed to its edge by Nature herself:

• Inconsistencies in data tug at us to move just a little bit further
• Intuition blasts Reason out of the water
• A question so Grand it pushes us from the comfort of ignorance

There is nothing more perfect or more glorious than the simple process of Discovery.

*Epigenomics refers to the area of study of gene expression as a function of environment, including the transmission of such information across generations without a change in DNA itself.

 

Follow Susan Smalley, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/suesmalley

Comments

[stargazer13]

10:05 PM on 03/06/2010

when they mapped the Geno I thought for sure we would find the so called missing link

for how could it hide ? Nope nothing and yes I was very disappointed

[nikanj]

12:13 PM on 03/08/2010

There is no 'missing link' because we are the results of an experiment in genetic engineering.
That knowledge is the real missing link.

[Kache]

12:10 AM on 03/06/2010

The art of science is in good hands. That was probably the most inspiring poetry I've read this century, Susan.

[everalone]

10:07 PM on 03/05/2010

I wish more scientists like you were given space in the media. Looking without a critical eye at the media in this country one would believe every single behavioral trait is nearly purely genetic.
It is quite interesting that even people on the left are ready to accept this discourse, which is quite different than in Europe.

"We see only as far as our mind is willing to look. Fear keeps us on the safe ground of reason".
Fear of what the peer reviewers will say?
Sadly it seemed to me that in this field most researchers only see what they are looking for (or what will bring them more funds), pushing the interpretation or even bending the data according to preconceived ideas/ideology. I am glad you prove me wrong.

[PaPaPeng]

11:41 AM on 03/05/2010

I read your article three times to try to get what new insight excited you that much. The best I can find is epigenomics has replaced eugenics as in "We boasted and argued the Nature-Nurture debate for decades, touting evidence right and left for 'genes causing this' 'genes causing that'." Intuitively I do believe that our behavior and sense of morality had a basis in inherited patterns. Is there science to it?

[Susan Smalley, Ph.D.]

08:31 PM on 03/05/2010

i wish i had been clearer than that (readng it 3 times isn't a good sign!)....the point i was making is that we are now beginning to understand the old nature-nurture debate as no longer a debate but a dynamic relationship of genes to environment (and vice versa).....while we are born with a genetic blueprint encoded in our DNA, there are a host of factors that effect genes expression such as stress, foods, toxins, etc. (and yes, quite likely cultural beliefs) and we are just now beginning to understand such factors. We can also change gene expression by our own mental states - such as can be induced by meditation for example.

The point of the post was to see the process of discovery as an infinite one.

The field of epigenetics was used merely as an example because i am a scientist who has worked in behavior genetics for years (before epigenetics was a topic of much discussion) and have seen how much discovery changes what a field deems to know........

I hope that is clearer.