can you flip on or off genetic switches by surgically removing parts of the body

[jveteran]

I'm writing a book on Circadian Rhythm Disorders, specifically Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome DSPS.

 

Part of the book deals with genetics which I understand poorly. My background is in Aeronautical Science.

 

I'm just looking for someone to point me in the right direction, not explain this subject fully to me. I'm trying to understand a concept of genetics involving use or disuse.

 

I'd rather not contaminate the actual question by telling you what problem I'm trying to solve. Hope that doesn't come across the wrong way. Instead let me give you a hypothetical example of what I'm talking about.

 

Lets say that in my hypothetical model it is discovered that the human earlobe secretes a neuropeptide, or a hormone, or something that isn't CRITICAL for existence, but can subtly alter our metabolism or homeostasis.

 

Then we discover a tribe in the Amazon that has been removing this earlobe in its members for many thousands of years.

 

At some point could that tribe have altered its genetic makeup by removing this earlobe that they no longer will produce that chemical whether it is removed or not?

 

Feel free to help me completely rephrase this question to make it more understandable. Thanks very much for any and all constructive criticism.

[questionposter]

I'm writing a book on Circadian Rhythm Disorders, specifically Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome DSPS.

 

Part of the book deals with genetics which I understand poorly. My background is in Aeronautical Science.

 

I'm just looking for someone to point me in the right direction, not explain this subject fully to me. I'm trying to understand a concept of genetics involving use or disuse.

 

I'd rather not contaminate the actual question by telling you what problem I'm trying to solve. Hope that doesn't come across the wrong way. Instead let me give you a hypothetical example of what I'm talking about.

 

Lets say that in my hypothetical model it is discovered that the human earlobe secretes a neuropeptide, or a hormone, or something that isn't CRITICAL for existence, but can subtly alter our metabolism or homeostasis.

 

Then we discover a tribe in the Amazon that has been removing this earlobe in its members for many thousands of years.

 

At some point could that tribe have altered its genetic makeup by removing this earlobe that they no longer will produce that chemical whether it is removed or not?

 

Feel free to help me completely rephrase this question to make it more understandable. Thanks very much for any and all constructive criticism.

 

I can't point you to anything specific because I don't remember the name, and it's not exactly what your describing but I think with enough research you could find it. Essentially, you have these "survival" genes in your body, and those genes "activate" when your daily intake of calories goes under a certain limit, and it ups your immune system, slow your metabolism and some other good things, and this is used to explain why monks live longer, since they often go on long fasts. I think scientists recommended it to increase your likelihood of living longer.

 

But with regards specifically to the tribe, how big is the tribe? Because with humans being as constructive as they are, random mutations can easily survive and spread within a localized population. There's even people with blue skin in a valley in the eastern US.

Edited May 1, 2012 by questionposter