Artindark I am not going to search for this. We could go on forever finding sources. I gave one which is enough. How many more do you want? What I don't see is the scientific community saying YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOUR DNA and they're the folk who should be saying it.
Instead of that we get a lot of 'apprentices' saying it on here, without any grounding, any research and any experience, as though they were the definitive voice. Where do they get the information from?
It seems to me there are a lot of folk who experiment with spell-casting, get some success and think they've made it, without understanding how it all works. This then makes them an authority (of course).
However, anyone who truly understands how magic works, not that it does, but how it does, would know that DNA change is within the boundaries of our powers.
Our genetics can be changed to some degree through science, it's called gene-therapy. However, those changes are never as drastic as something like growing wings. Someone mentioned environmental adaptation and that it happened because of survival needs, that is true. It only happens when you need to adapt to survive, therefore casting a spell to become a vampire is invalid under that umbrella, because it is something you want and not something you need. It would actually decrease your changes of survival. Since magick is part of nature, it follows the other rules of nature.
cassiel, that is the heart of the matter and the reason its so expeimental. the human body has trouble with any major changes. minor changes however are much more feasable with modern technology. also we cant really know what the future will hold for gene therapy. Also it is importnant to note that just because science has found a way does not mean magick can and vice versa. I do believe that more research in this field must be done both scientifically and magickally.
Every living creature has DNA (usually written as four letters,ABC and G) A combination of these four letters, make up a Gene. A further combination makes up a Cell.
Now, science has, indeed, found certain "combinations" of DNA to be the cause of certain illnesses. And these have been successfully "taken out" by science.
But that is not exactly changing the DNA! Even cloning uses the same DNA of the donor animal.A tree has DNA, but you cannot make a daffodil from it!
Science has been successful at inserting genes into a genome as well. While you are correct that a tree can not be a dandelion (at least not yet) traits could be introduced into the tree. an example of this can be seen with monsanto's genetically modified seeds these plants have been givin the traits that help protect them from pest and parasites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto
In the interest of harmony and because this is a magic site where the magical perspective is the pertinent one shall we simply agree to say....You cant alter your DNA thorough magic.
I feel this is a bad outlook. for example science for years said that changing DNA was impossible, then they found a way. The same could be true for magick. Just because I know of no way does not mean there is not a way. I think there would have to be much more investigation into this before it could be called impossible. Ive learned never to bet on anything being impossible. This is just my viewpoint though so take it how you will.
I apologize but this post is rife with misinterpretations of genetics and as someone who gets confused frequently by a biologist housemate I think it's my duty to correct them. Firstly addressing the main topic of the post "You can not change your DNA" This is actually correct if you interpret it literally YOU can not change YOUR DNA. It's true that we have made many advancements in genetics recently however any genetic effects occur at the cellular level not the organismic and so any genetic changes that are put into place and are designed to effect the entire organism must take place either in the gametes or zygote of the individual. Changing one cell after it's differentiation is ultimately pointless as the immune system targets the foreign proteins on its surface and destroys it.
Secondly "Adaption is a genetic change and can and does happen in your own lifetime" Adaptation is a population effect not an individual. It is a process of natural selection and/or genetic drift where by certain traits are selected in favor of and passed on to the next generation. It does NOT occur within an individual.
As for the sources supplied, one indicates aging (actually due to the shortening of telomeres and the reduction in capacity for mytosis that has evolved to maximize fitness apparently) and cancer (genetic mutations causing rapid reproduction and growth of cells, I'm sure that's where people want to head with genetic changes), another is as I said, across generations not in the individual, and the last on gene therapy which I will grant is a good example. Addressing gene therapy however, the main issues that we were having (I don't know if they still hold true) is that we can't change the DNA of the stem cells meaning that the cells we effect eventually die and are replaced once again by unhealthy cells however they may have made progress in that field I'm personally unsure. There is another problem however with looking at gene therapy as "changing" your DNA as I describe below.
The two examples I would grant (although again with draw backs) are GM crops (although genetics is far more adaptable in plants than animals and so it's not a brilliant one) and the founder of gene therapy, simply viruses. Viruses reproduce by inserting copies of their own genome into ours effectively changing our DNA. However like gene therapy it only introduces new genetic material it does not and can not re-write what is already in existence. The only effects that can remodel genetic makeup are meiosis, recombination and mutation all of which give rise to either a genetic change in the next generation, cell death or the formation of a tumor.
From all of this we can take that it is possible to effect the genetics of future generations however it is at least currently not possible to alter your own, only to add the expression of additional proteins. Such additions may account for small advantages or disadvantages in disease resistance or to cure genetic disorders but it's unrealistic to look towards gross bodily changes at this time given our current understanding of the process.
Ok that's my contribution to science for the decade, too many big words makes my brain hurt so I'm going to go lie down and check back with you all later.
