From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Wed Oct 09 2002 - 01:54:33 MDT
gts writes
> Neurotransmitters work much like endocrine hormones:
> after being released by the axon of a neuron they then
> bind to their corresponding receptors on the dendrite
> or body of the neighboring neuron. Genes influence
> the numbers and types of receptors at the receiving
> neuron, as well as the quantity and types of neuro-
> transmitters released by the sending neuron.
But isn't this influence (by the genes) far in the past,
as, for example, Plato influences my thoughts, but we
hardly need resurrect Plato to get Lee? <one liter of
joke-suppressant sprayed on here>
> Genes encode the instructions for the synthesis of
> both the neurotransmitters and their receptors. Genes,
> (in response to hormones like Brain Derived Growth
> Factor), also control the synthesis of the proteins
> necessary for dendritic expansion, which we know
> occurs even in adult life.
Yes, but suppose that you were at a podium giving a
speech. Suddenly, semi-Divine technology makes your
DNA inert, and the messenger RNA can't work on it,
although protein synthesis continues (for a while).
How long, would you guess, would it be before a word
of your speech was not delivered?
One more question: suppose that protein synthesis
had been stopped instead. How long before there is
a noticeable effect on your delivery?
Lee
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