The science we have been living by apparently has some grave errors in it. In fact, we are approaching a turning point, a kind of crisis in mainstream beliefs of our culture. For example, as much as 40% of Americans would prefer alternative healing methods over conventional medical treatment. All too often the cure seems worse than the disease, and in fact illness brought about by medical practices (iatrogenic illness) is the third greatest cause of illness.
From about the time of Christ until about 1600 AD, the central philosophy was to gain an understanding of the natural order of things in order to live in harmony with it. Copernicus published his findings in 1643, and this is considered to be the beginning of the Scientific Revolution. He waited until just before his death to publish because his writings revealed the fallibility of the church, and he knew would have suffered the inquisition.
After that, men like René Descartes said that all knowledge must be questioned since it had been handed down primarily by the church or from the Greeks. Francis Bacon, who was a well known misogynist, declared that the aim of the scientists was to obtain knowledge so that we could dominate and control nature, "she must be bound."
In 1859 Charles Darwin published his book which claimed that heredity elements are passed on to give the character of the parents to the offspring. After that time even psychological traits were thought to be bred into the species.
By the time of Isaac Newton, metaphysical or spiritual issues were no longer in the forefront. Newton’s materialism viewed the world as a kind of machine, which was to be known by taking it apart and studying the pieces (reductionism). The implication was that of structure and function where parts were replaceable. The central philosophical issue here was about whether control was innate and mechanistic or whether control was spiritual, originating from the outside, "all that matters is matter."
Only structure and function were admissible for study. Even the human body came to be seen as a kind of machine with a structure consisting of protein parts to accomplish the functions of digestion, excretion, respiration, nervous communication and reproduction.
The structure of this human machine has been studied in great detail. Amino acids (protein) are the building blocks, and are arranged in linear chains, which take on a 3-dimensional shape or structure on account of electrical charges. These electrical charges actually make the cell parts move or have active and inactive phases so that for example, a nervous impulse causes a muscle to contract. Life is movement and this movement distinguishes living matter from non-living.
In 1953 Watson and Crick discovered DNA. Studies of the protein machine reveal a complex polymerase, which is contained in every cell, so that every single human cell has enough information to reproduce an entire human. DNA is extremely stable and in fact studies of fossil material that is 50,000 years old show the DNA structure to be still intact and viable.
This gave rise to a belief in the primacy of DNA as being the causal agent in all life. Genetic determinism holds that all traits and characteristics are defined at the moment of conception. Crick’s hypothesis implies a fatalistic view which disempowers the individual and would have you believe that you are controlled by your genes. Acceptance of this hypothesis is so widespread that some women whose family has a history of breast cancer have undergone a mastectomy rather than risk getting the cancer. This belief was in the best interest of drug manufacturers who have become very powerful.
But the reductionist idea that a cell is a bag of protein parts has been challenged by recent findings about cellular awareness. DNA studies ignored the function of regulatory proteins which turn cells off and on, or activate them through chemicals generated by the environment. Cell membranes contain receptors or antenna-like parts which act like scanners, converting environmental signals into electro-magnetic stimuli which regulate proteins within the cell.
There are many kinds of these receptors whose specific shape enables detection of many kinds of stimuli such as glucose, histamines, insulin, and even light, etc. It was assumed to be the cell nucleus that directs the cell’s activities, but in fact, the cell can accomplish everything but reproduction with the nucleus removed, and will continue to function as usual for months until the individual parts need to be replaced or reproduced. A bacterium, which is the most primitive organism, doesn’t even have a nucleus, or internal parts (organelles). All its functions are contained in the cell membrane.
So it turns out that awareness (the brain) is in the membrane, or ectoderm. The skin of cells is composed of two parts that make up a bi-layer of protein and phospho-lipids. The outer layer has receptors which are antenna-like structures that receive signals from the environment.
The interior of the cell has a negative electrical charge. A receptor acts like a switch which permits a positive electrical charge from outside the cell to enter through the cell membrane. This causes an electrical spark, or signal, which causes a vibrational frequency like Morse code to be generated. These electrical signals affect the proteins of the cell and regulate its functions.
So there are receptors and processors and channels to allow environmental stimuli to evoke responses within the cell by changing the shape of the proteins in the membrane. And these receptors are so extremely sensitive that they can detect the presence of a single atom of glucose diluted with enough water to fill a whole harbor at the seacoast.
Cell membrane molecules are lined up like a kind of liquid crystal that change from conductor to non-conductor. The membrane is a semi-conductor with gates and channels. Electrical currents flow across the channels when the gates are open. This is exactly the same definition as a computer chip. The cell membrane is the same as a computer chip with individual receptors as the keys on the keyboard. The cell nucleus is like the hard drive that contains the software. If you remove the floppy disk that installed the program, the computer still works and you can select which software program you want to use at the moment.
There are 50 to 70 trillion cells in the human body, and each one contains in its DNA blueprint enough information to reconstruct an entire human body, but it does not determine or limit the potential of that human. Organisms can change to accommodate the environment.
In 1988, a Harvard geneticist and biochemist named John Kearns published in Scientific American, perhaps the most important paper in the history of biology. He countered the idea of random cellular mutation as set forth by Darwin with the idea of specific mutation brought on by the conditions of the environment. The implications are enormous, establishing the primacy of the environment over genetic determinacy.
He found that bacteria placed in an inhospitable environment could adapt to that environment. Given only a food source that was incompatible, by sensing the protein structure of the food source that was available, the organisms adapted their digestive parts to accommodate the food source. He showed that a certain class of genes has the function of engineering the design of other genes. It means that the cell nucleus can create a biological pathway to accommodate the environment by sensing the conditions of the environment.
Up until this time science had mistakenly accepted as fact the hypothesis that control of cellular activity originated genetically from within the cell, according to random mutations of the genes. This body of work in fact proves that cells are regulated by responses to the environment. Genes are not causative, but only correlated, just blueprints that are altered as needed by environmental demands.
Everything in the universe has a characteristic resonance or frequency. Quantum physics addresses the issue of the resonances of everything being connected and the information transmitted by frequency resonances. For example, electromagnetic fields can change protein synthesis.
Magnetic fields are set up around the nerves, and thoughts emit the same variety of frequencies that activate biological processes within the cell. Individual humans have unique frequencies associated with all their cell membrane receptors. The immune system distinguishes friendly cells from invaders in this manner. In fact, people with major organ transplants may begin to emulate characters and traits of the donor because cell antenna identity or frequencies are transplanted with the tissue.
Survival requires protection as well as growth. Cells can be either in a growth mode or a protection mode, but not both at the same time. Physical injury to cell tissue results in the release of histamines by the mast cells, which open the blood vessels allowing the release of defense mechanisms like white blood cells to counter an infection. Trauma can cause a fight or flight response, where blood is shut off to the forebrain and diverted to the hindbrain, and the adrenals are activated for a burst of energy, and the immune system is compromised.
Just as physical trauma causes triggering of histamine defense mechanisms, a perceived threat can cause a similar reaction from the brain resulting in the release of norepinephrine, which is similar to histamines in its effects on the body. These gluco-cortecoids are used to suppress the immune system in patients having organ transplants.
The levels of these stress-related hormones are very high in most people because of stressful lifestyles. Remaining in the protection mode will eventually destroy the body’s defenses because normal replacement of protein parts cannot be continued and can be especially harmful, resulting in various diseases.
We respond not just to stress, but to perceived stress. If an air raid siren sounds, the community stops normal functions and goes into a bomb shelter (protection mode). But when the "all clear" signal is sounded, normal activity resumes. However if the "all clear" is not sounded, the protection mode persists, the adrenal system shuts off the immune system.
Certain kinds of stress patterns attenuates the defense mechanisms and can result in psychological trauma so that the protection mode becomes chronic as in a subluxation, where the bodily posture is changed by bracing against trauma from either real or perceived danger. Besides physical bracing, prolonged stress can result in psychological bracing so that our belief systems include patterns of protective behavior.
Four billion bits of information come into the nervous system every second, but only about two thousand can be processed consciously, so more than ninety-nine percent is not processed consciously. Memory patterns automatically create belief filters in the brain, and most of our behavior comes from unconscious beliefs and expectations. Attitudes set up in early childhood or are passed on to us from our parents and early environment.
So, memory patterns are automatically created in the brain and once in place, these pre-programmed patterns and beliefs become automatic, and these pre-learned tapes and experiences usually run our lives. Only a considerable conscious effort can change these. This explains the difference between what we think and what we do, and why our emotional responses often over-ride the intellect.
Belief you don’t even know you have can affect what you do and who you are. You and your physical health are a summary of your beliefs and perceptions, the kind of data you are expecting. Your cells see what you see and the cell’s nucleus can create a pathway, so you can select what software you wish to use, so to speak.
"...a radically new understanding has emerged at the leading edge of cell science. It is now recognized that the environment, and more specifically, our perception (interpretation)of the environment, directly controls the activity of our genes. Environment controls gene activity through a process known as epigenetic control.
This new perspective of human biology does not view the body as just a mechanical device, but rather incorporates the role of a mind and spirit. This breakthrough in biology is fundamental in all healing for it recognizes that when we change our perception or beliefs we send totally different messages to our cells and reprogram their expression. The new-biology reveals why people can have spontaneous remissions or recover from injuries deemed to be permanent disabilities."
This new biology is called Epigenetics.
Be very careful of your thoughts and your vision. Breaking free of the limitations imposed by past experiences requires dedication, and conviction that you are not locked into anything. We are not helpless, but responsible. Know your beliefs, write them down and learn to visualize. Body is the extension of spirit. Evolution is awareness!
(This page is an editorial view of Dr.Lipton's work, and does not offer medical advice.
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