Found this bit in an article while at barber, (so had to leave copy of magazine there )discussing gene therapy, particularly skin applications.

I cannot claim to fully understand this but thought it might stir some thoughts here. An experiment in mice:

CRISPR-Cas method used to add GLP1 gene into skin tissue which controls blood glucose and decreases appetite. The gene's function is switched ON in the presence of doxycycline.

The result is "prevention diabetes" and "slow weight gain" in mice fed a high fat diet.

I can see so many problems ---- starting with the use of the doxycycline.....

Yes, many problems, but you know people are able to control blood glucose and eliminate T2D by design of diet. In addition, those with T1D can better manage health and longevity by design of diet. It's just not appealing to those who financially benefit by production of pills. I'm no longer a reader of Scientific American as it frequently deals in mythology rather than supporting a rigorous approach to the scientific method.

I too thought changing the diet was far easier , less expensive, less riskier, than a skin graft and consuming, gulp, an antibiotic to turn on the gene.

And whats with the " high fat diet"? Is it REALLY high fat ( and VLC)? ANd for what purpose is the diet changed along with testing the modified skin graft?

( Shaking head.)

I saw a documentary the other day that was examining the bones of the Egyptians who built the pyramids and they found Tetracycline in their bones. Further examination reveled that they were consuming beer throughout the day. It was their source for clean fluids. That's where the tetracycline was coming from.

It's a common lab technique. We used methanol to turn on the gene to make a protein to study deep vein thrombosis.

I found the article summary. Interesting!

https://www.scientificamerican.com/...abetes-in-mice/

For clarity, methanol, or menthol??? Cause I often use menthol to help with clearing the airways over night.

methanol...................

We've had our computer revolution, now comes a biological revolution like mankind has never seen. The re-engineering of life itself; both plant, animal and microbe. Not necessarily in a lab, but even in someones garage or kitchen.

It's mouse chow no doubt loaded with cheap unhealthy low quality fats and not low carb. Mice fatten readily on this type of chow which is why it's used when a metabolically unhealthy mouse is needed for a study. People of course don't do too well on cheap unhealthy fats plus carbs either (donuts anyone?).

Also, a lot of these mouse studies are from mice genetically engineered to be this or that: taking them even further away from actual application in our kitchens.

It’s biology and chemistry and like epidemiological studies, it suggests future study topics. But I am, under the fine influence of teaser, MEH about mouse studies

When it comes to turning genes on and off, WOW. This has real healing potential for people who have one gene not making an enzyme right, for instance.

But this OBESSESSION with creating a pill that will disrupt a working system in the body, regardless of how everything else will work: reminds me of statins. And that’s not a good thing.

I think the issue with drugs is it changes lots of stuff, some good, some not good. With a single gene, or perhaps a targeted set of genes, it is far more precise. Hey, I'm sure there are a lot of people that would like to turn off the genes for a disease they have. I've got a gene that predisposes me to blood clots. I'd definitely turn that C to a G if I could. But CRISPR doesn't work on adults. They use it on eggs or sperm or when a baby has just a couple of cells.

I've got the bad blood clot gene also. I've had clots for over 30 years. That's why I take an anticoagulant every day. I now bleed a lot every time I get a cut.

Name of title changed... to article i didnot read. Article was in feb 2019 issue and mouse study was one of several in the article.