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Science Is there a life after that? Found genes are activated only after death
Surely many people have wondered if there is a kind of life after death. It is not just clergymen who are concerned with this topic; medical professionals are also concerned about this essential issue of human life. Researchers now discovered that some genes activate only after death.
Scientists at Washington University in Seattle made a groundbreaking discovery of what happens to our genes after death. They found that some genes in our body are activated only after we die. Other genes are still active for days, although death had occurred. The experts published the results of their study in the online archive of "biorxiv".
Is there a life after our death? Researchers now found that at least genes continue to be active for days after death. Some even activate after the time of death. (Image: mdennah / fotolia.com) Some genes are still active for four days after death
Is there a life after death? This is certainly a question that has dominated human thinking for a long time. In one study, scientists from Washington University in Seattle now discovered that the genes of a dead animal were still active after four days. Genes, for example, involved in creating an embryo or related to the development of cancer, strengthen their activity after death, say the medical profession. Some genes even started to activate after the time of death.
Research can help forensics and transplant patients
The new research could potentially help reduce the increased risk of developing cancer after a transplant, explain the researchers. In addition, there is a possibility that the findings could help forensics investigate murders by providing an indication of when the murder victim died.
Researchers are investigating what happens to more than 1,000 genes after death
The study began as an experiment out of curiosity to determine what happens to us when we die, says scientist Professor Peter Noble. We can probably get a lot of information about life studying the effects of death. Researchers investigated in their study what happened to more than 1,000 genes in mice and zebrafish after they died.
Genes in dead animals still show changes after days
Changes in the genes of the dead experimental animals could be detected up to four days after the death of the zebrafish and up to two days in the deceased mice, say the authors. We initially suspected that the sudden death is similar to a car running out of gas while driving on the highway. For a short time, the engine pistons and spark plugs continue to work, but then the car comes to a standstill and "dies," explains Professor Noble.
Hundreds of genes are still active many hours after death
In the study, the scientists found hundreds of genes that were still active many hours post mortem. Some became more active days after the death of the animal, explain the experts. Compared with the example of the car on a highway, one would not expect the windshield wiper to suddenly turn on or the car to continue honking for days even though the engine has run out, the author explains Professor Noble.
Some so-called developmental genes activate after death
Since postmortem enhanced activation of genes has been observed in both zebrafish and mice, it is reasonable to assume that similar phenomena also occur in other multicellular life forms, explains Professor Noble. Some of these genes have been involved in stimulating the immune system or better managing stress. Other genes belonged to the so-called developmental genes. These are involved in the development of embryos and are sleeping in us since birth. These developmental genes rekindled after the death of the test animal, which was very surprising to us, adds Professor Noble. (As)