A chat with pond scum
Readers of this blog know one of my passions is listening to Ted Talks. This morning I listened to a Ted Talk by the biologist Elizabeth Blackburn, a Nobel Prize winner for her work with the discovery of telomerase - an enzyme which replenishes the caps at the end of chromosomes.
Her research includes the study of pond scum. The telomerase of the cells of pond scum – Tetrahymena – do not get old and die. As many of us know from personal experience humans do get old and die. Dr. Blackburn tells us that when cells in humans divide “and the DNA is copied, some of the DNA from the end gets worn down and shortened, some of that telomere DNA.”
Dr. Blackburn has an interest in the difference between life span and health span. She states: “…health span is the number of years of your life when you’re free of disease, you’re healthy, you’re productive, you’re zestfully enjoying life.” A psychologist, Dr. Elissa Epel who studies “the effects of severe, chronic psychological stress on our mind’s and body’s health” asked the question, “What happens to telomeres in people who are chronically stressed?” Dr. Epel studied mothers of children who had a chronic condition. Dr. Blackburn and others find the rate of the fraying and subsequent shortening of telomeres in mothers caring for children with a chronic condition varies depending on the perception of the situation. Basically those who see the situation as a challenge as opposed to those who see it in a negative light or as a burden have fewer frayed and shortened telomeres. Specifically she and many other researchers are finding that: “…if you typically see something stressful as a challenge to be tackled then blood flows to your heart and to your brain, and you experience a brief for energizing spike of cortisol. And thanks to that habitual “bring in on” attitude, your telomeres do just fine.”
In other words, how we label a situation determines our approach to it which, in turn, affects the basic functioning and, thus, the health of the body. We are still going to die at some point. As Dr. Blackburn reminds us, the goal is health span not life span. Whether we are dealing with physical pain, emotional strain or constant stress how we label it and deal with it has an enormous effect on the quality of our health.
Many individuals with a chronic illness such as anxiety, depression, addiction, diabetes, post-polio syndrome, HIV or some other condition have a very negative relationship with their body. They often get angry, feel victimized, and believe the negative messages, i.e. “Life is hopeless. I can never do what I am used to doing and, thus, nothing matters. I did not get what I deserved. The world is dark.” Those sort of statements are depressing and if fed will have an adverse effect on our health. Ignoring a situation or a condition is not helpful or healthy. Our conversation with the situation or the condition can greatly affect the instructions the brain gives to the rest of the body and the messages the rest of the body gives to the brain.
Dr. Blackburn’s approach to life and research is impressive for many reason including:
· The belief that the cells of pond scum have something to teach us.
· Being open or our mortality as human, but have some measure of control over our quality of life.
Once again I am reminded that I have the ability to see and not just to see.
Written December 7, 2017
Readers of this blog know one of my passions is listening to Ted Talks. This morning I listened to a Ted Talk by the biologist Elizabeth Blackburn, a Nobel Prize winner for her work with the discovery of telomerase - an enzyme which replenishes the caps at the end of chromosomes.
Her research includes the study of pond scum. The telomerase of the cells of pond scum – Tetrahymena – do not get old and die. As many of us know from personal experience humans do get old and die. Dr. Blackburn tells us that when cells in humans divide “and the DNA is copied, some of the DNA from the end gets worn down and shortened, some of that telomere DNA.”
Dr. Blackburn has an interest in the difference between life span and health span. She states: “…health span is the number of years of your life when you’re free of disease, you’re healthy, you’re productive, you’re zestfully enjoying life.” A psychologist, Dr. Elissa Epel who studies “the effects of severe, chronic psychological stress on our mind’s and body’s health” asked the question, “What happens to telomeres in people who are chronically stressed?” Dr. Epel studied mothers of children who had a chronic condition. Dr. Blackburn and others find the rate of the fraying and subsequent shortening of telomeres in mothers caring for children with a chronic condition varies depending on the perception of the situation. Basically those who see the situation as a challenge as opposed to those who see it in a negative light or as a burden have fewer frayed and shortened telomeres. Specifically she and many other researchers are finding that: “…if you typically see something stressful as a challenge to be tackled then blood flows to your heart and to your brain, and you experience a brief for energizing spike of cortisol. And thanks to that habitual “bring in on” attitude, your telomeres do just fine.”
In other words, how we label a situation determines our approach to it which, in turn, affects the basic functioning and, thus, the health of the body. We are still going to die at some point. As Dr. Blackburn reminds us, the goal is health span not life span. Whether we are dealing with physical pain, emotional strain or constant stress how we label it and deal with it has an enormous effect on the quality of our health.
Many individuals with a chronic illness such as anxiety, depression, addiction, diabetes, post-polio syndrome, HIV or some other condition have a very negative relationship with their body. They often get angry, feel victimized, and believe the negative messages, i.e. “Life is hopeless. I can never do what I am used to doing and, thus, nothing matters. I did not get what I deserved. The world is dark.” Those sort of statements are depressing and if fed will have an adverse effect on our health. Ignoring a situation or a condition is not helpful or healthy. Our conversation with the situation or the condition can greatly affect the instructions the brain gives to the rest of the body and the messages the rest of the body gives to the brain.
Dr. Blackburn’s approach to life and research is impressive for many reason including:
· The belief that the cells of pond scum have something to teach us.
· Being open or our mortality as human, but have some measure of control over our quality of life.
Once again I am reminded that I have the ability to see and not just to see.
Written December 7, 2017
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