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Exercise and Caffeine May Activate Metabolic Genes
ananyo writes "A trip to the gym could mean not just losing pounds — but also chemical modifications from DNA in the form of methyl groups. The presence (or absence) of methyl groups at certain positions on DNA can affect gene expression. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm looked at the methylation status of genes in small biopsies taken from the thigh muscles of healthy young adults before and after a stint on an exercise bike. They found that, for some genes involved in energy metabolism, the workout demethylated the promoter regions (stretches of DNA that facilitate the transcription of particular genes). Genes unrelated to metabolism remained methylated. Furthermore, similar demethylation could be seen when cultured muscle cells were given a massive (probably lethal) dose of caffeine."
From TFA: ...“one would need to consume a caffeine equivalent of about 50 cups per day, almost close to a lethal dose”, she says. “Exercising is far easier if you ask me.”
Clearly, she doesn't know about the secret Mountain Dew IV that hackers use whilst lurking in their parents' basements...
FTFA:
Zierath cautions that this result does not imply that drinking coffee could be a replacement for exercise. Caffeine acts mainly through the central nervous system, and to see direct effects on muscle such as those in the rodent-cell experiments, “one would need to consume a caffeine equivalent of about 50 cups per day, almost close to a lethal dose”, she says. “Exercising is far easier if you ask me.”
It's hard to code while I exercise, and it's only almost close a lethal dose. If it doesn't kill me, will 50 cups of coffee make me stronger? ;)
Agreed. I can't make heads or tails whether having my DNA promoter regions methylated or demethylated is good for me or not.
I drank 300 cups once. At that moment I was perfectly calm, and ran so fast I rescued my friends from a fire.
Anyways, My point is the more we understand how genes are expressed, and what they do, and the more we understand the chemical effects of exercise, we will be able to replace exercise with a pill.
I didn't not mean to imply we should all be taking a caffeine pill every 22 minutes.
Right now, I'll stick to loosing weight the old fashion way.. amphetamines.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
...and then run a mile. You'll live forever.
Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
slashdot... where two posts saying exactly the opposite of each other are both marked +5 informative.
Excellent!
I've been looking for Miss Wright for quite some time!
Visit CryptoGnome in his home.