Scientists Think Octopuses ‘Might Be Aliens’ After DNA Study

Not to send you into a meltdown or anything but octopuses are basically ‘aliens’ – according to scientists.

Researchers have found a new map of the octopus genetic code that is so strange that it could be actually be an “alien”.

The first whole cephalopod genome sequence shows a striking level of complexity with 33,000 protein-coding genes identified – more than in a human.

Not only that, the octopus DNA is highly rearranged – like cards shuffled and reshuffled in a pack – containing numerous so-called “jumping genes” that can leap around the genome.

“The octopus appears to be utterly different from all other animals, even other molluscs, with its eight prehensile arms, its large brain and its clever problem-solving abilities,” said US researcher Dr Clifton Ragsdale, from the University of Chicago.

“The late British zoologist Martin Wells said the octopus is an alien. In this sense, then, our paper describes the first sequenced genome from an alien.”

The scientists sequenced the genome of the California two-spot octopus in a study published in the journal Nature.

They discovered unique genetic traits that are likely to have played a key role in the evolution of characteristics such as the complex nervous system and adaptive camouflage.

Analysis of 12 different tissues revealed hundreds of octopus-specific genes found in no other animal, many of them highly active in structures such as the brain, skin and suckers.

The scientists estimate that the two-spot octopus genome contains 2.7 billion base pairs – the chemical units of DNA – with long stretches of repeated sequences.

And although the genome is slightly smaller than a human’s, it is packed with more genes.

Reshuffling was a key characteristic of the creature’s genetic make-up. In most species, cohorts of certain genes tend to be close together on the double-helix DNA molecule.

A gene is a region of DNA that contains the coded instructions for making a protein.

In the octopus, however, there are no such groupings of genes with related functions. For instance, Hox genes – which control body plan development – cluster together in almost all animals but are scattered throughout the octopus genome.

It was as if the octopus genome had been “put into a blender and mixed”, said co-author Caroline Albertin, also from the University of Chicago.

Source:

www.breakingnews.ie

Naturally Detox Your Body With These 6 Power Foods

There are all kinds of intense detoxification protocols out there that can help cleanse the colon, blood, liver, and other bodily organs and systems of toxic materials. But sometimes the easiest and most effective way to keep your body maintained and in check is to simply incorporate more cleansing foods into your everyday diet. Here are six “power” foods with known detox benefits that may help you and your family steer clear of chronic pain, disease, and other toxin-induced health conditions:

1) Garlic. This simple bulb is prized in the culinary world for its pungent and robust flavor, but it is also one of the most powerful detox foods you can eat. Most notably, garlic supports the healthy production of digestive enzymes in the liver, and is a key component in the body’s manufacturing of glutathione, a nutrient that Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D., refers to as “the mother of all antioxidants.” garlic also aids in the production of various sulfur compounds and bio-active selenium, two more nutrients that are critical in the detoxification process. (info.nihadc.com)

Garlic is also one of the most effective, broad-spectrum antimicrobial foods known to man, possessing 39 unique anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-parasitic, and antiviral agents, according to Dr. Mark McClure, D.D.S. Regularly eating fresh or encapsulated garlic can help remediate the damage caused by poor diet, environmental pollution, food toxins, pharmaceutical drugs, stress, radiation, aging, and other sources of toxic inputs. (www.huffingtonpost.com)

2) Leafy greens. This “superfood” category shows up often on lists of health-promoting foods, and
for good reason. Leafy greens like kale, spinach, alfalfa, wheatgrass, and chard are loaded with chlorophyll, a powerful cleansing nutrient that is sometimes referred to as “nature’s green magic.” The lifeblood of the green plant world, chlorophyll is a natural blood-builder and cleansing agent, and is known to help scrub clean cell structures throughout the body and promote new cell life. Chlorophyll also halts the growth and development of toxic bacteria inside the body, and is generally known to counteract toxins. (www.rethinkingcancer.org)

3) Citrus fruits. Starting your day off right with fresh-squeezed lemons, limes, oranges, or grapefruit
— or all of the above — is another effective way to regularly detoxify your body. Besides priming the digestive tract for food and spurring the production of digestive enzymes, citrus fruits are also particularly rich in vitamin C,which is recognized as one of the most powerful detoxifying vitamins in the natural world.

According to the Vitamin C Foundation, vitamin C taken in therapeutic doses can help counteract the toxic damage caused by non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other pharmaceuticals in the liver. Vitamin C also helps rid the body of mercury, cadmium, and other heavy metals, as well as aluminum and other toxins. Other excellent natural sources of high-dose vitamin C include camu camu berries and acerola cherries.

4) Raw vegetables. Broccoli, onions, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, artichokes,
carrots, cauliflower, beets, turmeric, and oregano — these and many other vegetables and herbs work synergistically with one another to cleanse the body and prevent a buildup of toxins. Like garlic, each of these foods is rich in naturally-occurring sulfur compounds, which the liver needs to effectively eliminate toxins and promote cell growth, as well as detoxifying glutathione. (www.drlwilson.com)

Since eating large quantities of raw vegetables every day may be difficult for some people, juicing them is one great way to maintain a high input. Carrots and beets tend to add sweetness to any juice blend, while cabbage has more of a neutral flavor. With the more spicy and flavorful vegetables like onions and oregano, adding more of these to salads and other fresh foods is a great way to boost intake.

5) Chia, hemp seeds. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, both chia and hemp seeds are excellent intestinal
cleansers. According to Dr. Edward Group III from the Global Healing Center, omega-3 rich seeds and oils in general help lubricate the intestinal walls and draw out toxins in order to eliminate them from the body. Chia seeds are particularly effective in this regard, as they swell and form a gel-like coating when soaked, which elicits a powerful detoxification effect in the gut.

6) Sea vegetables, algae. Recognized for their powerful alkalizing effect on the body, sea vegetables, seaweeds, and certain sea algae varieties like spirulina and chlorella are also amazing detoxifiers, as they literally suck up toxins in the digestive tract like a vacuum, and expunge them from the body. Sea vegetables and algae are also rich in trace minerals and other nutrients, which fortify the body’s own natural detoxifying systems. Just be sure when sourcing sea vegetables and algae to choose suppliers that have not been affected by the Fukushima disaster in Japan, and that regularly test their products for harmful radiation.

via NaturalNews

7 Potent Foods For Killing Pain Naturally

According to study, Chronic pain affects 116 million American adults. That’s more than 1/3 of total population. Painkiller may reduce pain but it has side effect and it can be addictive which are more dangerous. Best about these foods it won’t cause the nasty common side effects that most drugs cause.

Here are 7 potent foods that can fight pain naturally

Ginger
Ginger is nature gifted pain killer having analgesic properties like the popular ibuprofen. It reduces pain-causing prostaglandin levels in the body and usually use to treat pain and inflammation. Its active ingredients quartet, gingerols, paradols, shogaols, and zingerone which effectively reduce pain. Drink ginger tea to get relief from acute pain.

Turmeric
Study shown turmeric more effective anti-inflammatory than steroid medications when dealing with acute inflammation. Curcumin, a natural phenol present in turmeric root, is another natural anti-inflammatory. Curcumin suppresses pain same mechanism as drugs like COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors does.



Olive oil
Olive oil is like golden liquid which fight pain fast. It contain antioxidant called polyphenols that help reduce common pain-causing mechanism in the body. Researchers say olive oils that acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, as like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

Salmon
Salmon is tasty and a healthy protein, it contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help in reducing arthritic pain . Salmon also good for your heart health. According to one study, consuming omega-3s in the form of a fish oil supplement was better than relief experienced from taking ibuprofen.



Cherries
Study found that tart cherry extract is ten times more effective than aspirin at relieving inflammation. Cherries can help reduce pain through the presence of a phytonutrient called anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Grapes
Compound resveratrol, naturally found in the skins of grapes. It work same that aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs perform. Resveratrol compound stop certain cells in the body from responding to the signals of inflammation, suggesting that it could ultimately help fight pain.



Flax Seeds and Flax Oil
Flax seeds and cold-pressed flax oil, contain plentiful amounts of fatty acids known as Omega-3s which has anti-inflammatory properties.

Reference:

www.eatingwell.com

www.aarp.org

www.health.com

naturalnews.com