DNA. These three letters have a significance amongst our collective imaginations when the word evolution is bantered about. DNA. A scientific lovefest of all that explains evolution.
Hardly.
Google the word epigenetics. As seems to invariably be the case, the wikipedia site pops up, read and remember what it states as the definition of epigenetics. This will be a word that you will hear increasingly as the years drift by forming decades that trickle into centuries. I will dive further into this subject in the near future, but for now read what wikipedia has to say. For it is a decent introduction to a new understanding of how organisms are not just determined by their genetic make-up, nor are their evolutionary paths determined solely by genetic changes to chromosomes, etc. . . The study of epigenetics will be a subject taken up regularly by yours truly. Stay tuned . . .

Current Event

Everyone has cancer! That is not the explicit message in a new article I read this morning; however, the evidence presented provides evidence for this declaration that has been ruminating in my understanding of cancer. A scary thought until, as this article from the New York Times science section explains, we realize that most cancerous growths are small, benign, and in many cases temporary hiccups in an organisms natural, mistake prone, though inherently self correcting network of systems. (to read article click here: Cancers Can Vanish . . . )
The word cancer is a fear filled word that, for reasons that are just now trickling through the experimental and observational processes in the medical field, may be over blown--at least more often than not.
It appears that our bodies are constantly policing and fighting off rogue, cancerous cell growths. As organisms age or their immune systems become weak our bodies are less efficient at this task.
This relatively new understanding is a boon to the medical field in that we now realize that what has been accomplished with expensive procedures can often times be done with the aid of time and healthy lifestyles. A caveat: some cancers are not treatable this way; however, doctors are getting better at discerning which ones need serious medical attention (i.e. surgery, chemo, etc . . ) An understanding that, if validated, will help decrease the amount of money funneled into our health care system; and in turn, help consumers of health care prevent what can often be debilitating costs.

Mission Statement

In the event that people will want to follow the path (however temporarily and/or sporadically) I lay down, to follow where I have cut swaths of understanding amongst the complex terrain of our world, it is my self-given purpose to explore, analyze, describe, and build academic bridges within and amongst the broad collective field of science. I intend to be judicious with my opinions and, more than less, provide a mental playground of current scientific discoveries, observations of phenomena, and professional diagnostic tools in hopes of allowing readers to make their own conclusions; furthermore, I wish to provide access to aforementioned information so as to better prepare oneself against the onslaught of complexities that this world throws at us. In sum: I hope to empower readers with an increased means to enjoy, understand, and make good decisions as they make their way.