Make your genes work for you | Elena Baranova | TEDxIUM
Transcriber: Denise RQ Reviewer: Jeong-Lan Kinser Today I would like to share with you my story, the story of friendship and the story of [being in] love with your genes. And I hope that at the end of my little presentation, you will be probably able to create your own friendship and love story with your genes. So, what do we know about our DNA world where we live [since it has been discovered] more than 60 years [ago]? Our kids are growing with DNA toys, many people are playing DNA computer games, there are sculptures of DNA, you can sequence your total genome and put it on the wall. But does it really help you to understand how it works and what it is about? So, what is the real face of genetics today? Unfortunately, [most of] attention [in] a lot of studies is paid, essentially, [to] diseases and mutations. And the first reaction I use to hear from people when we talk about genes is just: "Oh, I don't want to know what I am going to die [from]." This is the typical, average people's reaction when we talk about genetic tests. However, [this] is, of course, created through the influence of many scientific studies [on] mutations and diseases, but let me tell you that the mutation, according to the definition, represents less than 1% - the frequency of mutation in the general population. It practically means that more than 99% of your genes are here to help you. They are not here to create you problems, but to accompany you, to be with you, and to help you in your everyday life. So, your genes, in fact, are your friends. Let me tell you the story about genes. First of all, you should know that genes are like people, very similar. They live in families - scientists used to call these supergene families, but they are still families - they interact [with] each other - it's called gene-gene interactions, much like families, people in families - they also interact with other factors - like environmental-gene interaction, for example, with food - and that's what happens every time. That is why there is a first, very important point: never [think of] your genes [ as something separate] from the body. It's not [an] abstraction, it's something which is inside of you. And when I am talking to you - this is the process which is going [on] inside of your body - in [all] of us - this is the story of gene activity, of gene expression. This is a real photo, by the way, it's not [an] abstraction. Do you know what the most important question [is]? What did you have for breakfast today? Has somebody had some juice? Let me know. Has somebody had...? OK. one, two. So, which one? Tell me. Who had, hopefully, carrot juice? Is there [any] lucky person who likes carrot juice? One! Well, it's a lot! I didn't expect it. What about coffee? Ah, this is... (Laughter) So, at least one person in the room [will live longer]. OK, great. (Laughter) [What] am I talking about? I'll just tell you the big secret. All what enters into the body is divided in two main groups, essentially main groups. They are [inductors], so we can stimulate our gene activity with the so-called inductors of gene expression, like, for example coffee. Coffee inducts the genes, which should not be inducted, by the way, because you'll fabricate so-called free radicals. But, others [are] inhibitors, they calm down the other processes. For example, carrot juice which would exactly calm down the genes which [produced] too [many] free radicals. So, we can play with our gene regulation. Every moment of our life we can do something about it. That is actually the great story: every single moment when you do something. So, the real question is: what have you done with your genes? This is a very deep question for me because I used to be an extremely sick child, the worst [nightmare] for parents. [Each time at] Christmas or Easter, I was always ill, you know. [it was] a disaster, [I had every] disease a kid [could] have. So, I used to apply a lot of drugs [until I was 20 years old] in order to struggle with allergies, and the spots, of course; I was covered [by spots all over my body] I couldn't even sleep without special medication against asthma. At that time, I started to learn genetics. I was growing [at the same time] [ I was studying] the human genome, somehow, through my thesis and everything. Testing, of course, when you do the thesis-- Many of us were students, you know, that first of all, at least in my area, we used to use ourselves for our studies. So, I was testing my genes, of course, as well. The creation of a relationship and the discovery, little by little of how it works, what is really good for my proper genes, what can be done, etc., helped me to recover my health and to go further in my life. And a very important suggestion I [would] also [make] [is for you], I hope, to create your proper love story with your genes, and whatever you do, [to] do it with pleasure. Don't [ever] do [anything] [that] doesn't make [you happy]. I like very much a phrase by Mark Twain who used to say: "It's very easy to stop smoking. I've done it 100,000 times." This is exactly what shouldn't be done. (Laughter) So, if you don't like to drink orange juice, please, don't do it. Don't do it thinking that it's good. It would never work. We can always find an alternative solution. Nature is very intelligent, and we have a lot of diversity and choice. Just simply look at it in a different way. Here, I can show you somebody who has really worked a lot on his genetic potential, and also changed it a lot during four months, using the power of his genes. And the guy [was so hot] and so handsome that I said: "I wouldn't leave him to anybody[else]." And I married him. (Laughter) This is how we created somebody else [with] a love story with the genes. (Laughter) But, whatever you do, I would ask you to live in harmony with your genes, mind and body, like this fantastic guy. He's 80-something. Can you see what's he's wearing? He's skating, I should say, walking around like this, in total harmony, we can see it on his face. Because, the other secret is that it's not only the outer environment, what you drink and eat, that's important. It's also your inner environment, what you feel. Whatever you do, you should do in harmony with your inner environment and in harmony with yourself. So, let your genes drive you to your health and success. And, I hope that my story about my health and success and friendship with the genes will be also yours. Thanks a lot. (Applause)