Comments on: Some thoughts about Evolution and Cancer http://buddhavacana.net/2009/07/09/some-thoughts-about-evolution-and-cancer/ Have a nice day ... unless you have other plans! Mon, 14 May 2012 02:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Wakeupnow http://buddhavacana.net/2009/07/09/some-thoughts-about-evolution-and-cancer/#comment-210 Wakeupnow Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://buddhavacana.net/?p=574#comment-210 @Atula, thanks for your kind words. Wonder if any researchers in this field may have noted this as well? @All, thanks to a dear friend, the article seem to be slightly disconnected with the title, in particular, the total absence of the word "cancer" in the article itself. Rather than modify the article, I will just say here that cancer may well be the result of certain traits that would have, in a non-tech, non-medical evolutionary track, died out over time. If that is indeed the case, then it would be ironic that medical science in its attempt to remove illnesses, may have cured some, but inevitably, allowed certain traits to persists longer over generations and perhaps culminate into suitable conditions leading to cancer etc. Another link between evolution and cancer is the mutation factor in both cases. In evolution, variation of genes arises due to "two main ways: 1) Mutation of genes or 2) transfer of genes between populations and between species." Further, "in species that reproduce sexually, new combinations of genes are also produced by genetic recombination, which can increase variation between organisms." Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution Cancer itself has several causes and one such cause is also mutation. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer So the same mutation mechanism that allowed species to evolve is also responsible for some forms of cancer. Quite a double-edged sword isn't it? @Atula, thanks for your kind words. Wonder if any researchers in this field may have noted this as well?

@All, thanks to a dear friend, the article seem to be slightly disconnected with the title, in particular, the total absence of the word “cancer” in the article itself. Rather than modify the article, I will just say here that cancer may well be the result of certain traits that would have, in a non-tech, non-medical evolutionary track, died out over time.

If that is indeed the case, then it would be ironic that medical science in its attempt to remove illnesses, may have cured some, but inevitably, allowed certain traits to persists longer over generations and perhaps culminate into suitable conditions leading to cancer etc.

Another link between evolution and cancer is the mutation factor in both cases. In evolution, variation of genes arises due to “two main ways: 1) Mutation of genes or 2) transfer of genes between populations and between species.” Further, “in species that reproduce sexually, new combinations of genes are also produced by genetic recombination, which can increase variation between organisms.” Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution

Cancer itself has several causes and one such cause is also mutation.
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer

So the same mutation mechanism that allowed species to evolve is also responsible for some forms of cancer. Quite a double-edged sword isn’t it?

]]> By: Atula Shah http://buddhavacana.net/2009/07/09/some-thoughts-about-evolution-and-cancer/#comment-209 Atula Shah Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://buddhavacana.net/?p=574#comment-209 Excellent article, well researched. Yes we humans have increased our needs to a height that without them life would be difficult to live. Like mobiles, laptops - they have taken over our existence. Our life in terms of quality - the inner organs have become weak, we taken in so much of synthetic, like medicines for each & every possible illness, sickness that without them we cannot survive. If you look around what tools our forefathers used to use & see there style of living it is was serene & beautiful, all natural. We even now eat GMO foods, the depletion of forests, the imbalance of the eco. systems, damaging of wetlands, faster melting of Icebergs & Glaciers in the Artic & Antartic is also signs of survival heading towards disasters. All this man made, our greed, desire & want has destroyed the beautiful earth. We need to rethink our lifestyles in order to try to reverser the damage done by us humans, make our bodies stronger with the nature. I am seeing so much destructions of forest covers, trees, all that is green in the name of development here in the African Continent, & also in my home Country Kenya. With Metta Atula Shah Excellent article, well researched. Yes we humans have increased our needs to a height that without them life would be difficult to live. Like mobiles, laptops – they have taken over our existence. Our life in terms of quality – the inner organs have become weak, we taken in so much of synthetic, like medicines for each & every possible illness, sickness that without them we cannot survive. If you look around what tools our forefathers used to use & see there style of living it is was serene & beautiful, all natural. We even now eat GMO foods, the depletion of forests, the imbalance of the eco. systems, damaging of wetlands, faster melting of Icebergs & Glaciers in the Artic & Antartic is also signs of survival heading towards disasters. All this man made, our greed, desire & want has destroyed the beautiful earth. We need to rethink our lifestyles in order to try to reverser the damage done by us humans, make our bodies stronger with the nature.
I am seeing so much destructions of forest covers, trees, all that is green in the name of development here in the African Continent, & also in my home Country Kenya.
With Metta
Atula Shah

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