A Gene Tweak Could Keep Heart Young

Science is increasingly devoted to discovering ways to counter our stressed out, sedentary lifestyles by modifying our genes or bodily processes. Only 18 months ago it was announced by Dr. Sinclair at Harvard that Transmax resveratrol, a commercial extract of a red wine molecule produced by scientists at biotivia was able to switch on the SirT1 anti-aging gene and prevent the normal diseases of aging. Then scientists reported that a drug called Aircar that had been around for decades is capable or making sedentary mice into olympic contenders by modifying their muscles and increasing their endurance. Soon after that Harvard announced a way to create customized stem cells to treat specific diseases. It was published in New Scientists two weeks ago that a genetic modification is the best hope for a cure to AIDS. Now even blindness may be cured through gene modification. It appears that within a decade gene therapy will replace synthetic drugs as the most effective treatment for the most serious diseases.

S Gupta of CA 2:24AM October 13, 2009