5 ms·

In my extensive research of neurons (as an independent/citizen scientist) it looks like the closest analogy to me. Neuron behavior is not only mediated by DNA b

In my extensive research of neurons (as an independent/citizen scientist) it looks like the closest analogy to me. Neuron behavior is not only mediated by DNA but neurons can also write changes back into DNA, not to mention the nucleus soup that acts a bit like registers. I work on small molecule peptide medicine that changes gene expression in the neurons and other to glia cells to treat medical conditions.

taneq 4y ago
Do you have any evidence for this? Sounds interesting if so.
- cjbgkagh 4y ago
  The general field is Epigenetics (gene expression based on environment), and within that there is research on how peptides act as modulators by silencing and un-silencing different genes. You can get a list of known bioactive peptides by reading it from the DNA or by using mass spectrometry (there’s a proper name for this but it escapes me atm). So putting the two together you can have quite a bit of external control over gene expression.
  - rolph 4y ago
    HPLC [1] or Electrophoresy [2] would be instrumental in isolating peptides based on mobility, and molecular mass. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-performance_liquid_chromatography https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-performance_liquid_chroma... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrophoresis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrophoresis
    - cjbgkagh 4y ago
      I was thinking of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry devices used in Protiomics research. It’s a bit out of my field but I think it’s an improvement to HPLC.
      - dekhn 4y ago
        Probably GC-MS? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_chromatography%E2%80%93mass_spectrometry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_chromatography%E2%80%93mas... Dunno how that would isolate the sample, rather than just analyzing it though
        cjbgkagh 4y ago
        I’m not involved in the process of acquiring the ‘omics data. I just analyze it and read papers from other people analyzing it. I think MALDI-TOF is the gold standard for proteomics.
        rolph 4y ago
        mass based deflection and deposition. isolation,and analysis are two different activities, many instruments are capable of both modalities, depending on technique. the problem is selecting a procedure that will not induce confounding artefacts of chemical, or physical interaction w the subject molecular entity.
jacquesm 4y ago
This isn't even wrong. Seriously, if you want to do science get educated, your statements on this subject ("I should add that I've taken to do my own research because I little faith in the actual scientists to do a good job, and the faith that I have left is diminishing.") make me discard your output as 'likely noise' rather than signal. If you want to be taken seriously then you should make a minimal effort to try to understand what it is that you are talking about, as it is you come across as a kook and that likely isn't your intention.
- cjbgkagh 4y ago
  I don’t work alone, I do work with scientists who I think are good. When I speak in generalizations it is just that a generalization. Science has been subtly redefined from a methodology to ‘what a scientist does’ and scientists these days produce papers.
- edgyquant 4y ago
  Please attack something that user said that is unfactual instead of engaging with his stance on other matters
  - jacquesm 4y ago
    I don't like your phrasing this as the need to attack something unfactual or not, and it's not 'other matters' it is precisely this matter: to come up with stuff that goes against established science in a way that makes it difficult, if not impossible to argue with.
dekhn 4y ago
Even if it's self-modifying, can continue state, etc, the Turing machine analogy is a bit of a stretch. And the current mainstream considers the primary function of neurons to be their information-transmitting capability, rather than their self-modifying ability. Don't let my negative attitude keep you from doing research- I just think that epigenetics has been a bit overblown as a functional mechanism, or its just too hard to prove anything useful with experiments. Personally, if I was working on this I'd focus much more on neural differentiation during neurogenesis, rather than self-modification during "runtime".
- cjbgkagh 4y ago
  I’m aware of how attractive the information-transmitting analogy is given the elegance of the theory. A few simple rules when combined form an infinitely complex emergent behavior able to sufficiently explain all observations; what’s not to love about it. I’m focusing on the epigenetic aspect of neurons due the possibility of the ME/CFS/LongCovid family of conditions being due to silencing of certain genes. The brain is closely linked with the immune system and I think the so while these present as immune conditions I believe it starts out more as a neural condition, maybe microglia. In addition it makes sense to focus on this area more as I can’t consciously restructure the neurons in my brain but I can introduce peptides that change gene expressions.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

taneq 4y ago

Do you have any evidence for this? Sounds interesting if so.

cjbgkagh 4y ago
The general field is Epigenetics (gene expression based on environment), and within that there is research on how peptides act as modulators by silencing and un-silencing different genes. You can get a list of known bioactive peptides by reading it from the DNA or by using mass spectrometry (there’s a proper name for this but it escapes me atm). So putting the two together you can have quite a bit of external control over gene expression.
- rolph 4y ago
  HPLC [1] or Electrophoresy [2] would be instrumental in isolating peptides based on mobility, and molecular mass. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-performance_liquid_chromatography https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-performance_liquid_chroma... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrophoresis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrophoresis
  - cjbgkagh 4y ago
    I was thinking of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry devices used in Protiomics research. It’s a bit out of my field but I think it’s an improvement to HPLC.
    - dekhn 4y ago
      Probably GC-MS? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_chromatography%E2%80%93mass_spectrometry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_chromatography%E2%80%93mas... Dunno how that would isolate the sample, rather than just analyzing it though
      - cjbgkagh 4y ago
        I’m not involved in the process of acquiring the ‘omics data. I just analyze it and read papers from other people analyzing it. I think MALDI-TOF is the gold standard for proteomics.
      - rolph 4y ago
        mass based deflection and deposition. isolation,and analysis are two different activities, many instruments are capable of both modalities, depending on technique. the problem is selecting a procedure that will not induce confounding artefacts of chemical, or physical interaction w the subject molecular entity.

jacquesm 4y ago

This isn't even wrong. Seriously, if you want to do science get educated, your statements on this subject ("I should add that I've taken to do my own research because I little faith in the actual scientists to do a good job, and the faith that I have left is diminishing.") make me discard your output as 'likely noise' rather than signal. If you want to be taken seriously then you should make a minimal effort to try to understand what it is that you are talking about, as it is you come across as a kook and that likely isn't your intention.

cjbgkagh 4y ago
I don’t work alone, I do work with scientists who I think are good. When I speak in generalizations it is just that a generalization. Science has been subtly redefined from a methodology to ‘what a scientist does’ and scientists these days produce papers.
edgyquant 4y ago
Please attack something that user said that is unfactual instead of engaging with his stance on other matters
- jacquesm 4y ago
  I don't like your phrasing this as the need to attack something unfactual or not, and it's not 'other matters' it is precisely this matter: to come up with stuff that goes against established science in a way that makes it difficult, if not impossible to argue with.

dekhn 4y ago

Even if it's self-modifying, can continue state, etc, the Turing machine analogy is a bit of a stretch. And the current mainstream considers the primary function of neurons to be their information-transmitting capability, rather than their self-modifying ability. Don't let my negative attitude keep you from doing research- I just think that epigenetics has been a bit overblown as a functional mechanism, or its just too hard to prove anything useful with experiments. Personally, if I was working on this I'd focus much more on neural differentiation during neurogenesis, rather than self-modification during "runtime".

cjbgkagh 4y ago
I’m aware of how attractive the information-transmitting analogy is given the elegance of the theory. A few simple rules when combined form an infinitely complex emergent behavior able to sufficiently explain all observations; what’s not to love about it. I’m focusing on the epigenetic aspect of neurons due the possibility of the ME/CFS/LongCovid family of conditions being due to silencing of certain genes. The brain is closely linked with the immune system and I think the so while these present as immune conditions I believe it starts out more as a neural condition, maybe microglia. In addition it makes sense to focus on this area more as I can’t consciously restructure the neurons in my brain but I can introduce peptides that change gene expressions.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]