Genetic Freaks on the Horizon

Let's follow some serial posting and research-skewering. Over at Brazen Careerist Max Marmer quotes a Newsweek article which discusses an original research paper. The paper seems quite interesting. In a study of Special Forces (SF) Soldiers, they not the levels of Neuropeptide-Y (NPY) in the blood. From the paper:

In both the large group (n = 49) and the small group (n = 21), NPY values of non-SF and SF soldiers did not differ at baseline. Wen tested immediately after exposure to acute stress, however, SF soldiers had significantly greater levels of NPY compared to non-SF soldiers. In addition, 24 hours after the completion of survival training, NPY levels in SF soldiers had returned to baseline, wehereas thouse of non-SF soldiers were significantly below baseline values.

and just what is NPY good for? Again, from the paper:

A large body of evidence suggest sthat NPY is a neurotransmitter and neurohormone intimately involved in the body's stres responses. The current finding of enhanced NPY responses to acute stress in individuals recognized as "stress hardy" may represent a step toward improving out understanding of the various factors tha contribute to sterss resilience and sterss vulnerbility in humans.

They very cautiously and reasonably conclude:

The current data underscore the potential therapeutic benefits of NPY agonists in humans - an issue that may be clarified by investigating the effets of NPY agonists in the treatment of individuals suffering from anziety and stress-related disorders.

So overall, a nice finding and very safe conclusions. They have made the link for the first time between the activity of NPY and stress responses. Then they propose that we can use this information in the treatment of certain disorders because we have a better understanding of stress-related biochemical pathways. But, here is what Marmer tells us:

Soon we will be able to model the chemical composition of these genetic freaks  and transfer that pattern to everybody. Not long after that we will begin trying patterns that no humans currently possess naturally. Admittedly all of this is a gross simplification but these types of technologies and procedures are on the horizon.

So in his world, we are going to find out how those individuals are regulating NPY and we are going to pump it up in everyone else and in the future we are all going to be so super stress-resistant we can.... uh.... work 100 hours a week!..... all be SF soldiers!....... yes! we can do everything! Oh, and patterns that no human currently possess naturally? how do you know that? Years and years (like decades) of work are needed to pick apart the details of biochemical pathways. I wish there would be some realistic talk about these interesting papers instead of bio-babel.