It's a familiar story: scientists claiming to have found a gene that affects something we do, from overeating to smoking. They then trot out the line about how the research may be of benefit to patients in five to 10 years, and that's usually the last we hear of it.
But last week there was a telling new twist on this familiar storyline, with scientists finding the reverse: something we do that affects our genes.
For years, scientists have portrayed genes as the chemical instructions on our DNA that control some vital process or another. This makes genes seem like molecular dictators, determining everything from our eye colour to the height of our offspring.
Yet this is obviously nonsense. If genes really were as deterministic as that, identical twins really would be utterly identical - and they're not (their fingerprints are different, for a start).
Most telling of all, perhaps, more of those claims to have found genes "for" everything from IQ to obesity would be producing benefits by now.
The truth is it's not the existence of a gene that's important, but how it behaves. It is perfectly possible for identical genes to produce radically different outcomes depending on a host of factors, inside and outside the living cell.
And there is now mounting evidence that these "epigenetic" influences include the chemicals we put into our cells - in other words, what we eat. That in turn raises the intriguing possibility of dodging our supposed genetic destiny by changing our diet.
Hints of this have been circulating for years as odd links between genetic diseases and certain foods. For example, children born with the rare inherited disorder PKU have a malfunctioning gene that leads to mental retardation. If you believe in genetic determinism, then that's an end of it: have gene, have disorder.
But while nothing can be done about the presence of the faulty gene, it is possible to do something about the way it functions.
The gene prevents the breakdown of a natural compound in many foods known as phenylalanine, which then builds up in the body, causing brain damage. So this "ineluctable" disorder is circumvented by putting babies diagnosed with PKU on a diet that eliminates the phenylalanine at source, making the genetic defect irrelevant.
So could something similar be done with more common disorders? These need not only be clearly genetic diseases like Down's syndrome, either.
As those seemingly endless announcements suggest, genes have been implicated in some of the biggest killers of our age, including heart disease and cancer.
And again, hints that "genetic modification" by diet might be viable have been circulating for years. How else does one make sense of all the research pointing to a reduction in risk if we eat healthily?
Now the link between genes and diet come into sharper focus with an intriguing finding about cardiovascular disease, the collective name for such mass killers as heart attacks and strokes.
As any health insurer will tell you, cardiovascular disease runs in families, and finding the genes involved has long been a priority of medical research. Pinning them down has proved a tough job, however - and small wonder, as the link cannot be simple: witness the overweight offspring of heart attack victims living to ripe old ages.
While the gene hunters continue their mission, the best that doctors have been able to do is offer advice such as avoiding smoking, taking exercise and eating more healthily.
Exactly what this means has now been made clearer by research in the current issue of the online research journal Public Library of Science Medicine.
In 2007, a team of gene hunters made headlines by discovering a genetic flaw that boosts the risk of heart attacks by up to 60 per cent. This is no rare inherited problem either: studies suggest around one in five people carry some form of the 9p21 variant.
But as so often with such findings, many questions remained. The variant does not seem to be linked with known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, so how does it wreak such havoc? And if it's so common, how do so many people with it get through life just fine?
An international team led by researchers at McGill and McMaster universities in Canada suspected the answer might lie in diet, by modifying the expression of the variant, switching off its lethal nature.
To find out, the team compared the diets of more than 27,000 people and looked for links with the genetic flaw. They found that those carrying the 9p21 variant were at significantly higher risk of heart attacks and strokes - but only if their diet was poor.
Changing to a healthier diet made a big difference. Those people carrying the most dangerous type of the variant could reduce their risk back to that of the lowest-risk group simply through a change of diet - specifically one with more raw vegetables and fruit.
Heart disease may thus be the first clear case of where we can dodge our lethal inheritance through changing what we eat. But the researchers stress that will be only part of the answer.
Examining the genetics of those taking part in the study, they found the effects of diet seems to depend on ethnicity. Those from Latin America and south Asia benefited the most, while Arabs did not seem to benefit at all - and it is not clear why.
(There is some evidence that the 9p21 variant is not involved in determining heart-attack risk for Arabs, although the researchers caution this could be because their study did not include enough Arab subjects to detect any effect.)
As scientists always say in such situations, more research is needed.
But the emerging links between gene function and diet gives hope that we won't have to wait five to 10 years before we benefit.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
- Robert Matthews is visiting reader in science at Aston University, Birmingham, England
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2a)
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
'O'
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More on animal trafficking
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Set-jetting on the Emerald Isle
Other shows filmed in Ireland include: Vikings (County Wicklow), The Fall (Belfast), Line of Duty (Belfast), Penny Dreadful (Dublin), Ripper Street (Dublin), Krypton (Belfast)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Spec%20sheet
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Pathaan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Siddharth%20Anand%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Deepika%20Padukone%2C%20John%20Abraham%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
%3Cp%3E1.%20Singapore%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Switzerland%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Denmark%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Ireland%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Hong%20Kong%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Sweden%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Taiwan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Netherlands%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Norway%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Esperance de Tunis 0
Al Ain 3 (Ahmed 02’, El Shahat 17’, Al Ahbabi 60’)
Common%20symptoms%20of%20MS
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFatigue%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3Enumbness%20and%20tingling%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ELoss%20of%20balance%20and%20dizziness%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStiffness%20or%20spasms%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETremor%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPain%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBladder%20problems%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBowel%20trouble%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVision%20problems%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EProblems%20with%20memory%20and%20thinking%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EGlobal%20Islamic%20economy%20to%20grow%203.1%25%20to%20touch%20%242.4%20trillion%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fuk-economy-plunges-into-worst-ever-recession-after-record-20-4-contraction-1.1062560%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EUK%20economy%20plunges%20into%20worst-ever%20recession%20after%20record%2020.4%25%20contraction%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EIslamic%20economy%20consumer%20spending%20to%20increase%2045%25%20to%20%243.2tn%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE%20athletes%20heading%20to%20Paris%202024
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