Archive for the ‘gene mutation’ Category

Coffee aroma Interfere Gene Expression in Brain

cofeeDrinking coffee or just breathe it can send a ‘wake-up call’ on the brain? The study, published by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in June 2008 showed evidence that drinking coffee alone can disrupt gene activity in the brain.

The research conducted using lab mice found that the aroma of coffee can interfere with more than a dozen genes and cause changes in gene expresses a protein that works to help reduce the stress resulting from lack of sleep.

Han-Seok Seo and colleagues said the thousands of studies have been conducted to analyze the composition of coffee in relation to health effects. Research rarely seek health effects of coffee aroma. This study is the first study describing the effects of coffee aroma on stress caused by lack of sleep in rat brain.

This research was initiated by making the rats to inhale coffee aroma, including some rats who experience stress or pressure due to lack of sleep. The researchers then compared the genes and proteins that express the gene in the mouse brain. Rats who sipped coffee showed differences in 17 types of gene activity in the brain. Thirteen of these genes showed different expression of mRNA between the group who experience stress and stress the coffee group, including proteins with antioxidant activity which helps protect nerve cells from damage caused by stress

The DEC2 gene mutation minimize Sleep and Stay Active

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, found that a gene mutation known as DEC2. These genes according to the researchers, is the first gene associated with sleep behavior in humans. Human DEC2 gene carriers did not sleep more than six hours a day but still healthy and far more active than most other people.

“The most interesting, genetic mutations can trigger the emergence of certain behaviors in humans,” said one researcher Ying-Hui Fu, PhD, was quoted as saying WebMD site. Genetic not the cause of all things, bright Fu, but it is clear that the genetic composition affect human behavior.

According to geneticist and researcher in the field of sleep from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland Mehdi Tafti, PhD, the results of this study is a key discovery that has long dicaritahu by other researchers. “This is the first gene in humans that can dramatically control sleep,” explained Tafti. In general, light sleep expert Richard Simon Jr.., MD, from Severyns Kathryn Dement Sleep Disorders Center in Walla Walla, Wash., those who slept six hours to be experiencing burnout. “Most of those who slept only 6 hours a day last fall.”

To prove the influence of this gene to sleep, Fu and his friends are genetically prepared to mice that made the object of an experiment carried genes from the human DEC2. The result, rats slept less and woke up much longer. Even during hours sleep is disturbed, these mutant mice require less sleep to recover. “The mice that do not need to sleep too much,” explained Fu. Why? According to Fu, the mutant gene helps mice and humans to reduce the need to sleep while still allowing them to sleep long enough to stay healthy.

Although the discovery of the mutation effect is very significant DEC2, Tafti said, but only affects one part of the sleep process is so complex. “DEC2 possible mutations are very rare. Only found in 1 in 60 families.” So, he continued, these mutations explain only about 1% of the causes of those who have short sleep duration. “And we have not found the overall cause.”

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