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A place to discuss topics/games with other webDiplomacy players.
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blankflag (0 DX)
17 Apr 13 UTC
gmo gene silencing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FI7n_caiTvE#! is there anything to this?
blankflag (0 DX)
17 Apr 13 UTC
i am not a bioinformatics expert. so maybe somebody can give more of a background on it, but there is some theory that the gmo wheat, which has been genetically modified to silence certain genes could maybe possibly silence similar genes in humans if you eat enough of it. i guess i am not sure how the gene silencing works in gmos so i dont know what the chances of this being an actual possibility are.
DW (165 D)
17 Apr 13 UTC
This is not a possibility for multiple reasons:
a) Wheat has different genes to humans. Even in genes where we have homologs (i.e cytochrome oxidase C) are sufficiently different enough that silencing would not work.
b) Silencing is done via RNA/DNA which will be destroyed in the digestion process so won't get into the body
c) Even if the DNA/RNA is in the body (if you hypothetically injected the naked sequence into the blood stream for instance) it wouldn't be able to silence genes as it needs to be taken up by cells and incorporated into the nucleus, this just doesn't happen with naked DNA/RNA. A lot of studies have been done trying to do this (gene therapy for diseases such as cystic fibrosis) and naked DNA just doesn't work. At the very minimum you need to package them in lipid vectors and realistically the only valid way of incorporating the new genetic information is via virotherapy.

So no, this is not a possibility, there is nothing to be worried about.
blankflag (0 DX)
17 Apr 13 UTC
so whats up with these two

University of Canterbury Professor, Jack Heinemann, and Flinders University Professor, Judy Carman

why are they saying it could silence human genes
DW (165 D)
17 Apr 13 UTC
I decided to look up the research paper by Jack Heinemann: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412013000494

You may not be able to access the link so I'll sum up the major flaws with the work:

In it he shows that dsRNA expressed in plants has been found in worms that have eaten that plant. However the digestive system of the worm is very different to humans so his claim that this supports the idea humans could absorb the dsRNA is ludicrous.

There is no proposed system of uptake of the dsRNA by the cell and no evidence to support the fact this does take place.

Although there are similarities between the dsRNAs used and sequences in the human genome these aren't specific enough to have a silencing effect despite what they say. It is amazing how specific these need to be to properly silence.

Just because something comes from a scientist does not mean it is necessarily right. If you look at the vast majority of the literature there is no suggestion of any problem. Some scientists concoct theories that are just plain wrong, usually either through poor experiments or drawing questionably conclusions. Unfortunately these are often reported in the media as the "findings" are sensational and often suggest a hazard to health. Look at Andrew Wakefield and the MMR-Autism link scandal or the large quantity of stories in the Daily Mail about "X" causing cancer or "Y" preventing it.
blankflag (0 DX)
17 Apr 13 UTC
so you are saying worms were uptaking the genes but we are not worms therefore there is no risk to us? wtf? shouldnt we only accept it when it is proven safe rather than the other way around?
philcore (317 D(S))
17 Apr 13 UTC
(+1)
was gmo gene spamming the forum again? Is that why he was silenced?
DW (165 D)
17 Apr 13 UTC
I am saying there is no way DNA and RNA can pass through the human digestive system. You countered by saying they had evidence that it could, so I merely pointed out that their only evidence is that it passes into worms which isn't really valid. To put it another way, when you eat a steak you are eating the bovine DNA yet you obviously would never start producing cow proteins. It is essentially the same idea.
blankflag (0 DX)
17 Apr 13 UTC
you also said if the genes were injected into our blood directly that would not be an issue, are you now conceding that was baseless?
ulytau (541 D)
17 Apr 13 UTC
Why would he concede that? Your cells don't just randomly allow whatever is flowing around them into their nuclei - if they did, you would be dead. Those genes would need to be forced there invasively, which on a large scale could most likely be done through a modified virus that would have the GMO wheat sequences incorporated into it. Or some sort of virus-like bionanorobots, if you want to give the idea of someone genetically altering the human population in silence a more high-tech twist.
DW (165 D)
17 Apr 13 UTC
It's not baseless. I could send you a series of papers on gene therapy which show that cells just don't take up naked DNA. The molecule is too polar and too large to cross the cell membrane. Even after that it would have to be taken to the nucleus.

Ulytau is right. The best way to genetically modify humans is probably via either an adeno or lentivirus. I quite like the idea of a double layered lipid vector with access proteins for each membrane, so it can endocytose through each one, as you could engineer it to be antigenically neutral but sadly that is probably the stuff of dreams and not really practical.
blankflag (0 DX)
17 Apr 13 UTC
he would concede it because he read up on the research and apparently it shows worms took up those genes. so to distinguish woms and humans he said it couldn't happen to us because we have better digestion... worms still have blood though.
DW (165 D)
17 Apr 13 UTC
The paper doesn't claim the worms took up the dsRNA. It showed the presence of the dsRNA in their body, no actual uptake to their cells occured.

The fact is that even in these worms that he has fed solely on GM crops he hasn't managed to produce any gene silencing.
blankflag (0 DX)
17 Apr 13 UTC
if people get sick from viruses, then your theory of it being impossible seems at odds with reality.
hecks (164 D)
17 Apr 13 UTC
@Philcore,
"was gmo gene spamming the forum again? Is that why he was silenced?"

You've got the wrong thread. You're looking for "JMO Gene Silencing". I hear JMO silenced Gene for a long time.


14 replies
datapolitical (100 D)
10 Apr 13 UTC
(+1)
Blankflag's website
I honestly think blankflag's personality and website are just one massive troll, perhaps even on himself. The alternative is a little bit too horrifying to comprehend.
73 replies
Open
2ndWhiteLine (2606 D(B))
11 Apr 13 UTC
Group D-5 GT EOG
My thoughts on the deciding game of group D, gameID=110162.

16 replies
Open
Sbyvl36 (439 D)
16 Apr 13 UTC
(+2)
Area 51 1/2
Even though everyone thinks that there is suspicious activity in Area 51, the real action is at Area 51 1/2, where Elvis, Michael Jackson, and everyone who has "disapeared" go to. They are hidden at Area 51 1/2, which is located at the East Pole in the Southwest Pacific.

And yes, Elvis and Michael Jackson are alive, just like the Wizard of Ox (not a typo) and the Truth Fairy are as well. Don't question me.
14 replies
Open
SplitDiplomat (101466 D)
16 Apr 13 UTC
Gunboat challenge
gameID=115271 has one wild card.The participants joined till now are:2WhiteLine,Lando,Barn3tt,Fairfax and myself.The sixth player most probably will be The Czech,I'm sure he'll join it as soon as he gets online.Based on interest shown the wild card will be given to the best positioned gunboater.So among these players:
4.Partysane,6.CSteinhardt,7.cspieker,15.guak,16.thatwasawkward and so on
the wild card goes to...?
12 replies
Open
dubmdell (556 D)
30 Mar 13 UTC
EOG Game 16 Around the World Gunboat Tournament
11 replies
Open
dubmdell (556 D)
23 Mar 13 UTC
EOG: Game 10 Around the World Map Gunboart Tournament
15 replies
Open
steephie22 (182 D(S))
15 Apr 13 UTC
How much money do you need to live from rents without a job?
Bit of reasoning with it would be nice. Just curious what you guys think.
41 replies
Open
steephie22 (182 D(S))
16 Apr 13 UTC
Area 51
It does exist, does it? So what are they doing there? Is there an official statement on what they're doing there or is it classified? Or what?
18 replies
Open
bo_sox48 (5202 DMod(G))
16 Apr 13 UTC
(+2)
Boston Marathon Bombing/Explosion Take 2
Blankflag, keep out.
21 replies
Open
dipplayer2004 (1110 D)
16 Apr 13 UTC
Takeover opportunity
http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=114568
Need someone to take over Argentina.
Decent position, interesting situation
2 replies
Open
blankflag (0 DX)
16 Apr 13 UTC
ber->mun + mun->ruhr + kiel->hol = pro
i came across this game and cant help but sit in awe at germanys mastery of the game. i dont think ive ever seen anything like it gameID=115218 did it give anyone else an erection lasting over 3hrs?
4 replies
Open
Chaqa (3971 D(B))
16 Apr 13 UTC
Colonial Diplomacy
It says "present but not active." Can we please re-activate it? It is my all-time favorite variant and it was even a retail one for a time. It seems like a very viable option for play.
0 replies
Open
orathaic (1009 D(B))
04 Apr 13 UTC
Spring 2013 leagues.
https://sites.google.com/site/phpdiplomacytournaments/The-php-League/leagues-spring-2013
94 replies
Open
I == G-Sim (283 D)
16 Apr 13 UTC
Has anyone ever seen this move made in spring of the last turn?
http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=113386&msgCountryID=0

I was France and the three of us executed quite a beautiful western triple in a public press only game. I think the idea was proposed to the entire board in 1902 and met little resistance except for maybe turkey in the Mediterranean.
0 replies
Open
Halt (270 D)
16 Apr 13 UTC
Featured Games
What's a featured game? What makes it special aside from a high buy in?
1 reply
Open
bo_sox48 (5202 DMod(G))
11 Apr 13 UTC
Mild Weather We're Having
Hey guys! It's -2ºC in Reykjavik right now! How's the weather where you are? Try to include the temperature in the city you're in (and please tell state/territory/province/country as well).

(P.S. - this is actually remotely important to me. I was told to ask real people so weather.com isn't an option.)
63 replies
Open
jimgov (219 D(B))
14 Apr 13 UTC
Gunboat for people with a brain
gameID=115165 Since HumanWave has complained about his gunboat games, I've decided to set him up with a good one. Of course, he is invited. And I hope that Split and The Czech will join. I'm sending all three of you the password. If anyone else that is good wants in, just PM me. I will post the player list before we start.
25 replies
Open
Omagunagitya (426 D)
15 Apr 13 UTC
Gunboat
There's gotta be 6 other people out there that meet these conditions:
A. want to play gunboat
B. have 3 hours
C. cant do anything about what happened in Boston
0 replies
Open
Dejan0707 (1608 D)
14 Apr 13 UTC
Italy - The Exception
"Italy - With Italy we come to the exception - the one area in which it is generally agreed that the admirable balance of Diplomacy breaks down. Italy does not have as good a chance of winning as the other six countries." - Quote from Richard Sharp book called diplomacy.
30 replies
Open
abgemacht (1076 D(G))
15 Apr 13 UTC
Boroughs F2F Cancelled
Not that many people care, but I'm a bit too busy at the moment to host this. Will try again when I have more time to prepare.
1 reply
Open
guak (3381 D)
15 Apr 13 UTC
Sitter needed
Need a sitter for live game. Has gone for too long and I need to leave. My mobile phone does not support mobile webdip so wont be able to log in more orders. Important position in the game. Thanks to anyone that can help
30 replies
Open
jimgov (219 D(B))
12 Apr 13 UTC
Another Global warming study?
http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/11/17708881-where-did-global-warming-go-the-deep-ocean-experts-say?lite
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/grl.50382/abstract

Just to see how many forum members' heads will explode.
36 replies
Open
KoiL (100 D)
25 Mar 13 UTC
(+1)
Behold 9/11
First top 5 reasons I believe 9/11 is a conspiracy.
115 replies
Open
blankflag (0 DX)
15 Apr 13 UTC
variants
is ancient medeteranean (i cant spell) a popular variant for less than 7 players? what about south america? i heard its better
3 replies
Open
blankflag (0 DX)
13 Apr 13 UTC
(+1)
why is stock market price the measure of economic performance
of course the elites like it because they own most of the stock market, but how effective has their propaganda campaign equating stock prices with economic performace been on the average man?
17 replies
Open
Captain Canuck (178 D)
14 Apr 13 UTC
Who do I contact when I suspect "Foul Play"?
I suspect a multiple user in a particular game. Who do I contact to check it out?
21 replies
Open
twinsnation (503 D(B))
14 Apr 13 UTC
passwords
Please send me password for euroopa, and wheedes wond world. i would like to join game
5 replies
Open
jimgov (219 D(B))
13 Apr 13 UTC
(+2)
New, fun drinking game
New drinking game everyone! Every time blank says some form of the word "elite," you take a drink. I plan on being absolutely hammered before nightfall. Whose with me?
77 replies
Open
HumanWave (337 D)
14 Apr 13 UTC
Distressing gunboat tendency
I'm new here but i thought I'd give my thoughts about gunboats thus far
43 replies
Open
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