From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Sun Oct 06 2002 - 16:07:19 MDT
On Sun, 6 Oct 2002, Lee Corbin, responding to my jabs wrote:
> Is there any evidence *whatsoever* that DNA stores
> memories? I have never even *heard* of such a thing.
Outside of the Penrose camp I don't believe there are any
that would seriously suggest it (and even they don't suggest
DNA per se). *But* if you look at Guarante's work on the
topic of histone acetylation/deactylation there may be some
relation between the "state" of the DNA and its ability to
perform its normal "function" in both thought and memory
storage (in constructing neural interconnects). I would
suspect the effects might be felt over days or weeks so
they would be rather subtle. [Note -- Guarante's work
doesn't directly relate to intelligence in any way --
I'm speculating based on the general mechanisms of gene
regulation.]
> At this point Robert has, for completely inexplicable
> reasons wandered into potentially libelous areas.
Until we have a completely right-wing set of principles
that says that it is improper to tease other adult list
members I think I'm on defendable ground.
> Further inflammatory and exceedingly uncharitable
> provocations will only increase my already overwrought
> indignation, and not only will they go into the
> personal dossier I have on you, but will be forwarded
> to my lawyer as well for appropriate legal action.
I'm not absolutely certain, but I think my lawyers are
bigger than your lawyers....
> Beyond *uncharitable*, these suggestions now clearly
> border on the criminally psychotic and sadistic, and
> (especially if Mike Lorrey is right about characters
> in fiction actually *really* suffering when bad things
> happen to them), the prospect that I may indeed one
> day suffer (or am already suffering!) at the hands of
> those who may take your suggestion at face value has
> begun to engender in me an urge to revenge.
Revenge away. Its only useful if you have determined the
recipient either (a) not inflicted greater pain on themselves
already and (b) has the capacity to feel pain. [I assume you
have noticed the various Zen derived statements I drop into
my posts from time to time...]
A sword must become one with the wind before it can strike at its heart.
> Yes (waxing serious for a moment), as DNA is a "recipe" for
> the construction of a human, it probably indeed does contain
> a valuable condensation about one. This strengthens the
> analogy to blueprints, in just the way you've explained
> via the WTC.
Agreed. What isn't clear at this point is how much state
information there might be outside of the long term blueprint
level of DNA and the physical neural network. If Calvin's
brain architecture speculations are correct, then consciousness
may be a very chaotic process of sets of neurons gaining control
of the "operating system" -- that in turn could involve some
very subtle gene expression/protein translation effects. (e.g.
What if a set of neurons in one part of your brain, programmed
to think one particular meme set became particularly efficient
at sucking up glucose and producing ATP?) [This is pure speculation
mind you.]
Robert
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