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Researchers Study Mystery of the Toddler Who Won't Grow
kkleiner writes "Twenty-year-old Brooke Greenberg hasn't grown since age five. For the last 15 years, mystified doctors have been unable to explain the cause for Brooke's disorder that has kept her aging in check. At age twenty, she maintains the physical and mental appearance of a toddler. The researchers are now are painstakingly analyzing Brooke’s entire genome in search of unique mutations. Needless to say, it is a formidable undertaking. 'Cracking the code on Brooke’s condition,' [Dr. Eric Shadt] wrote, 'is the proverbial searching for a needle in a haystack, since likely there is one or a small number of letters changed in Brooke’s genome that has caused her condition.' To find the mutation Shadt and his team are using the latest genome sequencing and analysis tools. The strategy is to compare Brooke’s genome to the genomes of her parents and three normal sisters, as well as to other available sequences from the general population, and identify gene mutations that only Brooke has."
4chan is going to love this one.
Originally a term used in Jungian psychology to describe how one presents their consciousness (persona/image/self) to the outside world. In this context, it indicates that Brooke responds to the world in a manner appropriate for a 5-year-old.
obviously the scientists studying her have far better qualifications and information than i do, but i can't help but think damage to the brain due to the stroke, coma, and brain tumor she suffered at age 4 (right before she stopped developing) could be a more likely cause than her particular genetic makeup.
Well from the article they said:
“has no apparent abnormalities in her endocrine system, no gross chromosomal abnormalities, or any of the other disruptions known to occur in humans that can cause developmental issues.”
I assume that the endocrine system would have to be affected in order to cause such stunted growth? If the stroke, coma or brain tumor led to this wouldn't they see that abnormality reflected in these growth regulating systems? Also from the article the researchers claimed:
“Cracking the code on Brooke’s condition,” Shadt wrote, “is the proverbial searching for a needle in a haystack, since likely there is one or a small number of letters changed in Brooke’s genome that has caused her condition.”
Some googling turned up older studies that claim there are no known genetic disorders present or even chromosomal abnormalities and her telomeres seem to be shortening at the normal rate. Also, apparently her body parts are developing out of synchronization. I guess it's possible there is a hidden system that synchronizes development so that your body doesn't develop asymmetrically? And we just haven't found this yet.
... that Kurzweil Singularity bullshit should be left out of the discussion until we fully understand it.
Sort of offtopic but I'm a little disappointed that this unfortunate affliction for this person is being spun as a possible "fountain of eternal youth" in the article. Come on, people. We should be working to better understand this so we can help people
My work here is dung.
I'd be interested to see a telomere study. Physiologically she's four years old, but is she four at the cellular and genetic levels?
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
opp opp OPPAN JUNGIAN STYLE
I'd be interested to see a telomere study. Physiologically she's four years old, but is she four at the cellular and genetic levels?
According to this study, her telomeres match her chronological age, so she appears to be aging in that sense.
"None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
It's not in the summary or article, but wikipedia says her body is aging, with different parts aging at different rates. And that "her telomeres seem to be shortening at the normal rate."
damaged by dogma
Heeeeeeey psych. class ladies!
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Can't you see the unholy hell that immortality would unleash on a civilization that is just starting to wake up to ideas of conservation and natural resource management? Or on a related note, how immortality would be handed out, managed and exploited under capitalism?
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
You're code must be awesome to look at.
It's easier to read than your prose ;)
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
Not possible; Atomic Theory would have triggered the Modern Age, and besides Riflemen are enough to kick Spearmen ass.
I thought about that, but it assumes that an increase in lifespan would lead to an increase in long-term thinking. Many people already think too short-term for their immediate situation, never mind a currently-possible human lifespan.
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Which would be better, I think.
As a kitten, my cat was entirely too curious/fearless and once spent about 30 seconds inside a dryer before I figured out that "thump-whump-meow" is not the normal operation of said dryer, and also that my cat was missing. (Fortunately, aside from a slightly warm bum, the faint scent of fabric softener, and an 8-month-long fear of large white appliances, he was fine).