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Dear Friends,
Welcome again to my abode!
In the preceding article I had left a question unanswered. What does our DNA do? And now I rhetorically ask again is there anything it doesn’t?
Right from creating cells, their repair when damaged and finally their “suicide” when they get old, all fall in the purview and responsibility of the DNA. It is the only “TRIUMVIRATE” in truest sense which we humans are blessed to witness.
The DNA creates cells, regulates all the functions going on inside them thus regulating all the processes of our body. Not only does it care about your present but passes on your legacy to your offsprings as well.
By synchronising the processes, it tries to ensure that our body lives a long and healthy life. Every two years the responsibility to renew most of the cells is gladly and assiduously undertaken by our DNA, our messiah.
Our DNA is our only saviour as it keeps our organs in perfect working condition and repairs them whenever they get damaged. It controls our immune system and marshals its resources to perfection to fight of the enemy, the infectious villains, which otherwise could prove fatal. In the aftermath of their brutal attack, it systematically repairs and contains the damage caused by those pathogens.
It also tries to cover up some of our misdeeds by adjusting the blood profile to mitigate the harmful effects of high consumption of sugar, carbs, fat. Whenever needed it causes changes in our blood vessels to adjust the blood pressure too.
It further tries to keep your body temperature within range, which is an immutable requirement for the existence of your body. When your body gets hot it activates the sweat glands to release sweat to cool it, and when it feels cold it sets your body to tremble generating heat to bring your body’s temperature in normal range.
DNA holds the blue print of your body up to the finest details. It holds sway over each and every activity you or your body might wish to perform. The internal working aspects are all controlled by the DNA through its managers, the genes, to who it has delegated all the responsibilities, which get activated by signals generated by chemical messengers created by the DNA itself. The whole of the processes going on as if those are completely computerised. It is not “as if” but those are actually computerised, as evident from their perfectly algorithmic functioning described in my previous articles. Our DNA is a comprehensive computer software which even creates its own hardware to run those programmes. At any given moment billions of programmes are running simultaneously with all the “if”, “then go to “, and all other programming syntax perfectly encoded for any eventuality the body might face. Even when the body is near death the DNA would send a surge of energy in an effort to revive it, resulting in terminal lucidity, and when our “computer” realises that the end is imminent it would send a surge of painkillers and narcotics to mitigate any pain or fear.
As far as the exterior functions you intend to accomplish also become the responsibility of the DNA. First when your intention to act takes birth, your DNA releases chemicals which activate certain portions of your brain which analyse the risks and rewards involved in your proposed undertaking. Once your system has been informed of the pros and cons it takes the decision and your DNA releases another set of chemicals which start the motor part of the brain, which plans out the whole sequence of activities, based on your past experiences, on the ostensibly best method to perform that task. On the basis of those decisions taken by your system, with complete involvement of the DNA, a different set of chemicals are ordered to be released. And once those chemicals are released, they relay a chain of command by inspiring release of yet other chemicals and ultimately when the effect of the cascade of chemicals reaches the muscles of the relevant external part of your body (e.g. limbs, neck, tongue, facial muscles), that part moves and starts affecting the task. For each single movement the whole process repeats and finally while you have just taken a few steps there have occurred thousands of changes in the chemistry of your body, all under the able stewardship of the sedulous DNA. Just imagine even lifting a cup from the table, taking a sip, keeping the cup back on the table would need the release of chemicals innumerable times. And we just take this insignificant activity for granted. You are making your body perform these supposedly insignificant movement thousands of times a day and with each movement your DNA is activating various glands and brain cells millions of times to release the chemicals specific to that task only. Can you even imagine the extent of what your DNA does, and that too, so meticulously that the result is free from any blemish, absolutely perfect.
These were just a few of the innumerable tasks performed by your software, your DNA. If I mention all, even 10,000 pages won’t be sufficient to justify its virtues.
To get all the tasks carried out, the DNA has to provide all the energy and raw material. To accomplish that it controls your appetite…..your hunger…..your thirst. Once it has made you eat and drink, it delegates your digestive system which includes many organs to complete the disintegration of the consumed articles. Once the food gets broken up, getting it absorbed into the blood stream to be carried off to various locations too is the responsibility of your DNA. Once you had your fill the agents of the DNA would ensure that you do not consume more by sending chemical messengers to the brain to inform of satiation, which in turn switches off the release of chemicals which induce appetite, all under able supervision of the “software” of your computer, your DNA.
Your DNA is the second most valuable gift from the DIVINE. Do you remember which is the most valuable one?
Your consciousness, of course!
Many intellectuals are consilient that our DNA is the product of EVOLUTION. Now, the time has arrived to determine whether the DNA is a product or development caused by evolution or is it a gift from the DIVINE?
In my next article I would prove that OUR DNA IS A GIFT FROM THE DIVINE BROUGHT UP BY EVOLUTION. Why do I say that? Peruse the next article to comprehend.
To be continued
Signing off
Rakesh Batra
12.01.2025
