Superman Genes

What genes give superpowers

Atlas company blog, Geektimes

While we are exhausted in the gym or waiting with horror for a hangover after one glass of champagne, everything is given to these lucky people for nothing. Is it true that genetics generously distributes gifts to someone, and leaves someone with a constant feeling of hunger?

Truth. And we have several examples in Atlas that confirm these words.

BHLHE41: Sleep for weaklings

This gene encodes a protein that participates in DNA transcription (rewriting text when copying) as a suppressor. In addition to this important work, the BHLHE41 gene is responsible for regulating circadian rhythms – our biological clock. They are partly related to external factors – the change of day and night, but by their nature they are endogenous: even in isolation from sunlight and the daily rhythm of the planet, we will go to bed and wake up. The human cycle is 24-25 hours, of which we need to sleep 7-8 hours. However, mutational variations of the BHLHE41 gene can make their own adjustments to our schedule: some lucky people, by their genetic nature, manage to get enough sleep in 5-6 hours.

ADH1B & ALDH2: I'll stop drinking tomorrow

Two genes encode enzymes that are involved in alcohol metabolism – alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. The process takes place in two stages: first ADH1B breaks down ethanol to acetaldehyde – and alcohol intoxication ends there. But a hangover begins: acetaldehyde is poisonous, and its presence in the blood causes poisoning with all the consequences: headache, nausea, dizziness. This continues until the second enzyme ALDH2 deals with acetaldehyde and turns it into vinegar (solidless and safe in the small concentration in which it is formed).

The coordinated work of two genes helps the body cope with alcohol so quickly that you will not have time to say stupid things from drunken eyes, or suffer a hangover (a real James Bond). Deviations in the work of these two genes lead to interesting consequences. If the first ADH1B gene works well, and the second ALDH2 works poorly, alcohol will quickly break down to acetaldehyde, but it will not go further than that. Pleasant intoxication will quickly disappear, and a long, heavy hangover will come: a red face, a rapid heartbeat – everything that we associate with alcohol intolerance. If, on the contrary, the first gene shirks its work, and the second one quickly splits the hangover poison, you will find a long state of intoxication, no hangover, a cucumber in the morning. It sounds very attractive, but do not rush to envy such superpowers: since you don't have to pay for a drink with poor health, these superheroes have a higher probability of alcohol addiction.

FTO: Close the refrigerator

Fat Mass And Obesity Associated is the full name of this gene, which encodes an energy protein and is responsible for metabolism in general. The work of this gene is associated with the onset of a feeling of satiety. A certain variant of the gene can lead to the fact that for some it comes late: say, twenty minutes after the body has really had enough and received everything necessary. Naturally, twenty extra minutes of overeating can–and does–lead to obesity. And genetic superheroes with a normal variant of the FTO gene can eat and not get fat (although they eat a little).

TAS1R3: and get away from the display case with cakes, too

Another reason for increased weight (and blood glucose levels) is the love of sweets. Evolution has played a very cruel joke on us. At the dawn of humanity, she taught us to choose sweet foods: they were more likely to be nutritious and not poisonous. But after a couple of million years, the same gene, instead of leading us to healthy foods, leaves us alone in front of a showcase with cheesecakes, profiteroles and eclairs sparkling with calorie highlights. Someone is lucky: their sensitivity to sweets is normal, and dessert is not so important for them. The rest – the unfortunate ones with a reduced sense of sweetness – it is always not enough and always want more.

FTO / SLC30A8: Run in the morning every day

After the extra pounds appeared out of nowhere, we go to the gym. But even here we are disappointed: someone studies every day and quickly gets in shape, while others have to squat and pull up more - and it seems that everything is in vain. In a fitness club, the FTO gene, already familiar to us, plays an important role: in addition to the desire to eat, it also determines the effectiveness of physical activity and the rate of burning fat mass during physical exertion. Someone, alas, has to work harder to achieve the same or lesser results.

Another gene, SLC30A8, encodes a zinc transporter protein that is involved in insulin synthesis. It is responsible for the speed of recovery after physical exertion. An incorrect genotype can increase the recovery time up to 48-72 hours between workouts: it will simply be useless to practice more often.

CCR5: HIV resistance

Rapid burning of fat mass or inflexibility to sweets look like toy superpowers in the face of a real superman: the HIV resistance gene. CCR5 encodes a chemokine receptor protein that plays an important role in the immune system. A certain mutation of the gene makes it impossible for HIV to attach to the T-cell: it's like a congenital and lifelong vaccination. People with such a genetic "vaccination" from 5% to 14% (data on the European population). Unfortunately, there is also a side effect: apparently, this type of CCR5 gene increases the risk of West Nile fever and multiple sclerosis.

Most likely, any reader of this text has genetic superpowers. Which ones – the genetic test will show.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  01.07.2016