As was reported all over the news a couple weeks ago, researchers had identified a virus that causes stem cells to develop into fat cells. Of course, the natural reaction was to question whether getting rid of the virus would cause the host person to begin losing weight? I didn't see the answer to that question among the articles I read.
This week, researchers are proud to announce the discovery of the "skinny" gene, which they have undoubtedly been searching for since it occurred to them to do so. The corresponding obvious question is whether or not you could make a drug that would cause fat regulation the same way this gene does. What I find interesting in the article was how it shows that the focus is on how to make people skinnier, but that most of the research is on the already skinny.
Here is an explanation related to flies: “In times of plenty, these super skinny, sleek and fast flies can easily get away from predators,” Graff adds. “But in times of shortage, they don’t make it.” I guess that's just more evidence that the svelte won't make it through the next ice age.
Lastly, here is another article that talks about a fat gene. Do we have both? And the final question is, why do we (and Americans in particular) think that any problem can be made to go away with the simple swallowing of a pill?
2 comments:
The short answer? Americans are lazy. We always search for the parking spot nearest the doors, we take shortcuts in everything, we sacrifice quality for cost savings and ease of manufacture, etc.
I am waiting for the day when we wake up and put an end to all of this and just do things the way they are supposed to be done and that will involve hard work.
I have a feeling that I will be waiting for quite some time...
Well that and we want someone else to solve our problems for us. I think that is the even shorter answer.
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