I have colleagues that are part of the M.D/Ph.D program that I am part of, and they are focusing their research on cancer suppression and cancer research. Interesting thing, the pyramidal continuum of cancer and neoplastic growth etc.
I'm in the Medical/ Epidemiology pathway--so my interest is more so in Medicine and causes, basis of disease etc etc.
One colleague of mine, an M.D/Ph.D candidate, is researching Neoplastic Growth and conversion of pre-neoplasm to beningnancy to Metastasis. On keratocacrinoma.
One thing that she said, which sparked my interest, was that cancer is the 'immortalization' of cells. In the basis of all things, that is what cancer really is. It is when a cell looses its 'normal' function and will not die. It has lost its 'apoptotic' capability, its 'limitation'.
For those that do not know what apoptosis is, it is the pre-programmed inclination within all cells to kill itself--a suicidal signal--for all cells to make after they become senescent (old); when their functions as a cell (specialized or generalized) have been lost. So it kills itself via de-granulation and DNAse or protease activation--resulting in the death of the cell.
Cancer cells, have mutated the gene that codes for apoptosis. Meaning: They have inhibited the 'death' gene. Amazing really. Cancer cells have inhibited the inhibitor, in layman's terms.
So it cannot die. It outlives, it outgrows, and it draws resources from other cells and powers its march to cellular divinity. Immortalization of the cell. It destroys the function of the entire organism--until the organism, perishes, as a result of the cancer cells' immortality. Because the body was designed to maintain homeostasis--a balance of order. Cancer is the antithesis of hemeostasis--since it illustrates growth that is unhindered, unchecked. Uncontrolled.
It signifies to us, physician-scientists, that life has an order of things. Even cells have order---if you break that order---the entire society to which that particular cell is part of, will perish.
The same applies for humans and macrocytes (larger beings).
In meaning of this, what I'm trying to point out and get across is that we--though our accomplishments may be great, can never be immortal. or god-like. it is impossible. We are designed to be finite. We are born, we live, procreate, and in the end, we will perish.
You see--just as the cell is born (via mitosis and meosis), it functions and lives and does its duty, it then will perish after the time allotted for it comes to pass. But tho the cell is small and even unseen to the untrained eye---it is part of a GREATER force. It is part of a tissue, which is then part of an organ, which is then part of an organ system, which is then part of an oraganism, which is then part of a society, which is then part of a population, which is then part of the Living. Which is, in ITSELF, part and a created aspect of the ETERNAL LIVING GOD.
God is the DRIVING FORCE.
His presence is seen even in the cell.
In the diseases we cure, and study. He is there.
He is author, creator, and Designer of all MEDICINE.
And All Things.
For there can be no immortality but GOD. And in GOD alone.
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