Phenomenon of Man - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

What differentiates us from other living things? Which developmental path will humanity take? Above are some of questions that Chardin`s book, Phenomenon of Man, provokes readers to ponder. Chardin lays out his account of cosmology and life, as well as his opinion on humans as the last stage of development, according to his understanding of evolution. This notion reflects Chardin’s unique view on evolution, which seems like an intricate melange of science and theology. He advocates for a linear progression of evolution, for he claims that evolution inevitably and intentionally leads to complexity in organisms; separate parts of cells combine and become a whole. The resultant organism is more complex than the individual parts. He goes so far to say that species desire to acquire a nervous system and brain, leading to cerebralization, because evolution is “nothing else than the continual growth of pyschic or radial energy”. Under this new definition of evolution, humans certainly are the work of nature. Out of millions of concoctions, it is a wonder how complex beings like humans came about, since the right kinds of cells and molecules would have had to come together in a particular order, at the right time, for it to happen. In a way, due to their complexity, humans deserve distinction from other living things; controversially, Chardin’s opinion that evolution and history of life work together in a linear fashion, makes humans seem nothing more than an expected product of nature. In response to Chardin’s claim, one can argue that evolution does not necessarily direct the history of life to happen in a certain way, which means, humanity arose because its ancestors randomly happen to possess traits that were beneficial in survival. The debate of whether these traits were intentionally developed or randomly acquired seems central to analyzing Chardin’s approach of evolution.

Chardin used the term, “hominization”, which is the process of humanity becoming more human, fulfilling its potential. The potential here refers to “supreme consciousness” driven from mental and intellectual development. He introduces another interesting term, noosphere, which is an invisible layer of humankind’s mental and spiritual state. According to Chardin, our developmental pathway is beyond physicality, but includes spirituality and mentality. Humans are complex and different from other species because of their psychosocial activities. Chardin shares a similar philosophy with Bernal’s, in that they both believe in transcending physical evolution to achieve an advanced life. What is interesting in Chardin’s philosophy is that he does not wish humans to focus too much on individualism, but encourages everyone to work as one, and move as a whole race. Will there be a risk of losing one’s originality and individuality if the entire race follows conformity? There is a relationship between intellectual activity and individualism, so it is difficult to understand how a convergence of intellectual activity of human kind can be reconciled with upholding individuality. In fact, Chardin introduced the Omega point, which is described as the highest psychic energy and the final state of human convergence. If the human race is heading to the Omega point, for it is the evolutionary pathway according to Chardin, what happens to the physical form? Does this mean that, potentially, a dog with the mind of a “super-life” can be called human? If humans are free from physicality, physical forms and biological factors will no longer be used to differentiate one species from the other.

In spite of the fact that he is a priest, his radical and liberating thoughts on human potential and development prove him to be truly a visionary scientist. His unique view emphasizes the importance of developing mentality and spirituality in a world that often becomes cold and obsessed with physicality, as science seeks for visible and tangible evidence.   

Horsetail’s Mechanism of Action & Proposed Study

PART A – Hypothesis

Horsetail was traditionally used to strengthen bone and is currently recommended to patients suffering from osteoporosis. It is suggested that Equisetum’s silica content increases calcium absorption and usage in the body, although the mechanism of silicon in the role of bone health is unclear. One biochemical model proposes that dietary silicon interacts with osteoblast cells to increasing calcium absorption, thus having a physiological effect of increasing bone density and connective tissue synthesis that prevents osteoporosis (Jugdaohsingh, 2007). The following study explores the biological mechanism of silica extract from horsetail and its interaction with calcium uptake in body.

PART B – Proposed Study 

                     

Introduction

One study shows that horsetail contains 0.78-2.61% of the average daily dietary intake for calcium in one glass of herbal infusion (Raczuk, 2008). This amount of calcium is insignificant to be used as a treatment for osteoporosis since the recommended levels of calcium intake by the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference on Osteoporosis range from 1000mg/day for men and 1500 mg/day for pregnant and post menopausal women (Truong, 2006). Even with the insufficient amount of calcium, horsetail is still recommended herbal supplement for people suffering from osteoporosis. One proposed role of horsetail in terms of the treatment is that the mineral contents of calcium, magnesium, and copper in horsetail are utilized by prolyl hydroxylase enzyme, a cofactor of gene transcription of type 1 collagen, to increase the synthesis and/or stabilization of collagen (Jugdaohsingh, 2007); again, however, the role of active mineral components found in horsetail on bone health is poorly understood. Instead of focusing on the commonly discussed minerals mentioned beforehand, this study explores the role of silica and silicic acids, which is reported to support bone and collage formation by encouraging calcium absorption and usage in the body, thus increasing bone building and bone density (Williams). As evidence, a recent finding on US and UK cohorts showed a strong positive association between Si intake and bone mineral density (Jugdaohsingh, 2004).

This study hypothesizes that silica content in horsetail encourages bone deposition by stimulating osteoblast proliferation and osteocalcin synthesis (Jugdaohsingh, 2007). Osteocalcin is coded by the BGLAP gene and is known to be secreted by osteoblasts, thus is a good biochemical indicator of bone building (Puchacz, 1989). The study will test the cellular and physiological effect of silica on osteoblast cells in three parts. In the first part, radiolabeled silica will be injected to ovariectomised (OVX) rat (Namkung-Matthai, 2001) and the localization of silica and its affinity to chromatin will be observed. In the second part, oral tablet of silicon will be prepared and osteocalcin gene level will be measured. In he last part, bone density will be determined after the oral administration of the tablet.

Materials

Part 1 - Localizing silicon

Extracted silica from horsetail is ¹⁸O isotope radiolabeled and prepared as a liquid form to be injected in rats.

Part 2 , 3 - Measuring osteocalcin gene expression and determining bone density

Silica is extracted from horsetail and prepared in a tablet form for oral administration. For such therapeutic agent, at least half of valances of organic silicon must be bonded to oxygen and less than quarter of valences are bonded to halogen, such as chlorine and bromine (Wiegand, 1993).  Examples of such compounds are tetraorganoorthosilicates, specifically tetraethylorthosilicate, Si(OC₂H₅)₄ and silicon tetraacetate (Wiegand, 1993). The compound can be prepared by reacting ascorbic acid with silicate ester that has lower alkyl radicals, which are more readily available in metabolism. These compounds are broken to silicic acid in the gastrointestinal mucosa (Wiegand, 1993).

The ideal target subjects will be post-menopausal female with osteoporosis or hypogonadotropic osteoporosis in human males or females (Wiegand, 1993). However, for the safety concern, domesticated warm-blooded animal, OVX rat will be used. 

Method

Extraction of Silicon

All inorganic substances are removed and silica is obtained from stalks of fresh Equisetum averse through acid treatment by submerging stalks in 10% HCl for 2 hours at boiling temperature. Then silica is calcinated to revemove organic components (Sapei, 2007). For the first part of the experiment, the calcinated silica is liquefied and is radioactively labelled with ¹⁸O isotope. For the second and third part, the extracted silica is esterified, and the silicate ester is reacted with ascorbic acid to create an edible form of silicon tetraacetate (Wiegand, 1993). 

Analysis

Part 1 – localization of silicon

Radioactive liquid form of silica is injected to OVX rats and the affinity of silica is observed under Positron emission tomography (PET) scan (Phelps, 2006). A small section of tissue where silica is located can be cut out to examine the molecular interaction between silica and chromatin using chip-on-chip to identify the binding site (Buck, 2004). It has been reported that silica may have a role in gene transcription since silicon increased the mRNA of certain proteins (Jugdaohsingh, 2007). It is hypothesized that silica will localize around connective tissues and cartilage of bones, as well around matrix to activate transcription factors.

Part 2 – Osteocalcin expression level

Silica tablet is prepared as mentioned under the extraction section and is orally administered to OVX rats. A global gene regulation expression of transcription factors and proteins on bone formation can be determined using DNA microarray. The appropriate genetic information of proteins involved in osteoblast activities can also be obtained from cDNA library. A special attention can be paid to BGLAP gene that codes osteocalcin, and further information on this gene expression can be obtained by complementing DNA microarray with RT-PCR or with northern blotting (Tardif, 2004). It is expected to observe a significant up-regulation of BGLAP gene expression. The translation of up-regulated gene expression to protein synthesis can be determined using ELISA kit to measure osteocalcin and osteoblast protein level (Kim, 2009).

Part 3 – Bone Mineral Densities (BMD)

After orally administrating the prepared silica tablet, BMD of OXV rats are determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for rats (Kim, 2009). It is expected to see an increase in BMD.

This design is to propose an experiment that will determine the biochemical and physiological role of horsetail’s silica. The implication of the study is that if silicon extract from horsetail is proven to have an essential biological role in bone health, horsetail can be a potential therapeutic herb used to preventive measure and a treatment for osteoporosis.

Reference

Buck, M.J.  Lieb, J.D.  (2004) ChIP-chip: considerations for the design, analysis, and application of genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments. Genomics. 83: 349-360.

Jugdaohsingh, R.(2007). Silicon and Bone Health. J Nutr Health Aging. 11(2): 99-110.

Jugdaohsingh R, Tucker KL, Qiao N, Cupples LA, Kiel DP, Powell JJ. (2004). Dietary silicon intake is positively associated with bone mineral density in men and premenopausal women of the Framingham Offspring cohort J Bone Miner Res. 19(2):297-307.

Kim, MH. Bae, YJ.  Choi, MK. Chung, YS. (2009) Silicon Supplementation Improves the Bone Mineral Density of Calcium-Deficient Ovariectomized Rats by Reducing Bone Resorption.  Biol Trace Elem Res (2009) 128:239–247

Namkung-Matthai H, Appleyard R, Jansen J, Hao Lin J, Maastricht S, Swain M, Mason RS, Murrell GA, Diwan AD, Diamond T (2001). Osteoporosis influences the early period of fracture healing in a rat osteoporotic model. Bone 28 (1): 80–6.

Phelps, Michael E. (2006). PET: physics, instrumentation, and scanners. Springer. pp. 8–10.

Puchacz E, Lian JB, Stein GS, Wozney J, Huebner K, Croce C (1989). Chromosomal localization of the human osteocalcin gene. Endocrinology 124 (5): 2648–50.

Raczuk J, Biardzka E, Daruk J. (2008). The content of Ca, Mg, Fe and Cu in selected species of herbs and herb infusions. [Pubmed abstract] Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 59(1):33-40. Available from Epub.

Sapei, L. Gierlinger, N. Hartmann, J. Nöske, R Strauch, P. Paris, O. (2007). Structural and analytical studies of silica accumulations in Equisetum hyemale. Anal Bioanal Chem.  389:1249–1257

Tardif, G. Hum, D. Pelletier, JP. Boileau, C. Ranger, P. Martel-Pelletier, J. (2004).

Differential Gene Expression and Regulation of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein Antagonists Follistatin and Gremlin in Normal and Osteoarthritic Human Chondrocytes and Synovial Fibroblasts. ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM. 50(8):2521-2530

Truong, Michael (Interviewee).  (2006, Dec 11). Osteoporosis Prevention & Treatment [Interview transcript]. Retrieved from MedicineNet.Com Web site: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6850&page=2

Wiegand, Karl E. (Baton Rouge, LA), Hu, Patrick C. (Baton Rouge, LA).  (1993) Silicon compounds in bone treatment         United States  Ethyl Corporation (Richmond, VA)   5183061 http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5183061.html

Williams, Maureen. Nutrition support for osteoporosis: Nutritional prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. http://www.maureenwilliamsnd.com/articles.html#articlesanchor

                  

                  

Time Machine by H.G Wells

Time Machine

In life, humans are always travelling through time, in that we are always looking to the future and the past. We try to discover our inner-self and the purpose of life, as if we are following in footsteps of ancestor, who had a perpetual question on the origin and the future direction of humanity.  

Will humans evolve the way Time Machine has depicted?

It was a surprise to read how our descendants have evolved in the book. Elois were weak, lacking in intelligence, and were easily affected. The protagonist of the book speculates that a lack of diseases and harmful agency in the upper-world made the Elois vulnerable. As the time traveller stated, “there is no intelligence where there is no change and no need of change”. Since there was no need for them to worry about protection, creativity was unnecessary, thus their aspiration for intelligence and development disappeared. From an evolutionary perspective, this is a possibility, but only if we were to create benign, perfect conditions for our selves. However, the current state of our environment tells us that, in reality, humanity is most likely walking into a vicious cycle of self-destruction.

For instance, there are climate changes and food shortages resulting from unsustainable practices of food production and resource exploitation. People deforest in order to make agricultural lands. This further aggravates the environmental degradation, leading to low crops yields, and increases in carbon dioxide levels. Therefore, we will need to be more fierce and resilient in response to environmental changes. We will have to be more intelligent in order to solve these and other problems, and suggest creative solutions. If we cannot surmount these challenges, we may have to de-evolve into Morlocks.  

What makes humanity head in that direction?  

            Despite our awareness of our current environmental calamity, it is a wonder why we continue to do what we have been doing. In my opinion, this reflects human nature: selfish, lazy, and refusal to put up with the slightest discomfort. Unfortunately, our desire to live better results in the exploitation of nature and puts more stress on the environment. Our desire to eat palatable food, increases demand for more animal products; and refined, processed meals contribute to modern chronic diseases. Humans have strived for intelligence since the discovery of fire (Fire seems to appear again, as it did in Frankenstein, as a symbol of intelligence; with a decrease in intelligence, the civilization has lost the art of fire, according to the protagonist), but this intelligence yields problems that we must face. We have never been exposed to the perfect conditions that Elois live in, so instead, we have relied on technological development. In my opinion, the advancement of mankind has moulded society and culture in a way that leaves us with no choice but to continue to move forward, innovate, and destroy.

Thus spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche

Thus speak Zarathustra reflection`         

I found the content of the book to be convoluted, making it harder for me to extract Nietzsche’s philosophical ideas and relate them to the course theme of human nature. My limited understanding of the book is that Zarathustra, who seemed to be in line with characteristics of Jesus, advocates that becoming “superman is the meaning of the earth”. He also claims that “man is the string between the beast and the superman”. I question, how is his view of humanity similar to and different from Darwinian/modern understanding of humans? They are similar in that both speak of progress and both view the current state of humanity to be transitional. However, Zarathustra argues that the goal of humanity is to become a desirable type of human called “superman”, otherwise humans will degrade to animals. Meanwhile, Darwinian theory states that human fitness is dependent on its surroundings, so humans will evolve accordingly to the current and future environment. This means one cannot assume an ideal type of human for which to strive. Zarathustra also mentions that the breeding of supermen will make human kind too domesticated and tamed, thus becoming meek, and seeking only to pursue simple pleasure. This reminds me of the future described in The Time Machine. Will this mean that humans will lose one’s creativity and intelligence? This would cause a digression from individuality, which is a main characteristic of human nature. I think the “last man” would be more ferocious and resilient as it struggles to compete against others to survive.

Zarathustra articulates that “one should be truthful to earth”. I can deduce that the truthfulness to earth refers to the acceptance of science because he elaborates his comment by adding, “blasphemy to God once existed when God existed”. Science and knowledge exist, so denying the science and law of nature will be the equivalent to blasphemy of God. Here is where my second question arose: Can religion and science co-exist? When Zarathustra repeats, “God is dead”, I do not think he was referring to the physical disappearance of God, but rather to the traditional Christian culture in western society.  Since new things were created and discovered, one should progress to adapt different ways of thinking beyond the tradition Christian way. Christianity was dominating over European countries at the time of Nietzsche, and unwillingness to be “truthful to science” must have hindered the advancement of humanity. For instance, tradition Christianity dictates that eating from a tree of knowledge was the fall of humanity. This notion impedes one from questioning and thinking critically because it will be against God’s will. For human desire to improve and a quest for knowledge, stubborn fundamentalism or the closed-minded Christianity, is hostile to science because it will condemn those who seek for the truth. However, my opinion is that they can both co-exist as long as these two areas communicate with each other, understand that they work under different constraints, and each other do not breech one another’s realm of governance.

The co-existence of science and religion brings up another question of what is truth. Is there an absolute truth to every questions and reality? Is the truth created or discovered? If discovered, wouldn’t truth be relative since the timing and content of discovery may not be consistent throughout population. If there is an absolute truth, there must be an absolute morality, but I think otherwise. Depending on cultural background and religious beliefs system, it can be moral to one but not to the other. If none of humans have same morality, on what do we base our human nature? This raises further questions on who we are as human with different understanding of world and where we are heading, as our different morality dictate us to look at different direction.