科学家说:这8个基因变异真的能给你超能力!
More than 99 percent of your genetic information is exactly the same as every other person on the planet. But it's in that less than 1 percent that things get interesting. Specific genetic variations allow some of us to acquire certain “super” qualities. ACTN3 and the super-sprinter variant We all have a gene called ACTN3, but certain variants of it help our bodies make a special protein called alpha-actinin-3. This protein controls fast-twitch muscle fibres, the cells responsible for the speedy tensing and flexing of the muscles involved in sprinting or weight-lifting. hDEC2 and the super-sleeper mutation Some people naturally feel totally energised on just 4 hours of sleep each night. These people are called 'short-sleepers'. For the most part, researchers believe that the capabilities are connected to specific genetic mutations, and have publicly identified one on the hDEC2 gene. TAS2R38 and the supertaster variant About a quarter of the population tastes food way more intensely than the rest of us. These 'super tasters' are more likely to put milk and sugar in bitter coffee, or avoid fatty foods. The reason for their reaction, scientists think, is programmed into their genes, specifically one called TAS2R38, the bitter-taste receptor gene. LRP5 and the unbreakable mutation Researchers have identified a genetic mutation on the LRP5 gene that regulates bone-mineral density, which can cause brittle bones. But a different type of mutation on the same gene could also have the opposite effect, giving some people extremely dense bones that are practically unbreakable. The malaria-protecting variant People who are carriers for sickle-cell disease are more protected against malaria than those who are not. Though blood disorders are not necessarily 'super', this information may influence more innovative malaria treatments down the road. CETP and the low-cholesterol mutation Mutations in a gene responsible for producing a protein called cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) result in a deficiency of that protein. Studies have found a lower prevalence of coronary heart disease in people with the deficiency-causing mutation. BDNF and SLC6A4 and the super coffee-drinker variants There are at least six genes associated with how your body processes caffeine. Some variants, near the genes BDNF and SLC6A4, influence the rewarding effects of caffeine that make you want to drink more. ALDH2*2: The super-flusher variant Do your cheeks go rosy shortly after having a single glass of wine? A mutation on the ALDH2 gene may be the culprit. One such mutation interferes with the ability of a liver enzyme called ALDH2 to convert the alcohol byproduct acetaldehyde into acetate. When acetaldehyde builds up in the blood, it opens up the capillaries, causing what we see as a flush or glow. |