I admit some of my resources are pretty weak but I was in a rush at the time. Others, for example gene therapy are still strong evidence to my point. With a modified retrovirus it may be possible to majorlly modify a human. No this has not been done to my knowledge mostly because human ethics gets in the way. It would also be a major shock to the body and likley cause death. Smaller changes are still viable. even though they are small they do give evidence to show that the genome can be changed. The smaller changes could be introduced into a non stem cell if done through the proper vecter (retrovirus). this does have a chance to cause cancer (what doesnt these days). the possibilty still remains and Science is only becoming more develeped.
I fully agree with you actually that it is definitely possible to introduce new elements of the genome into the body as a whole. Again it's adding to rather than changing the human genome and currently limited to the effects of cell surface proteins and signalling molecules due to the need to maintain functionality of the organism (meaning that to give a feature such as wings you'd need to simultaneously re-write the bone density, cardiovascular, musculature, skeletal and nervous mapping of the body which is pretty much near impossible with our current knowledge and will be for a very long time yet).
I wouldn't get too hung up on the cancer draw backs though actually. Yes there is a chance at creating a tumor but only when you're targeting the wrong cells. Assuming you can identify the correct ones ("easy" enough will cell surface protein receptors) then it becomes as safe as it would ever realistically become.
I never was saying I expected magick to grow wings, I do however believe it may be able to present small changes in the Genome of a person. Using magick to do more would most likely fail completly and if it worked, most likly kill the subject of the spell. Doing more than anything minor would require insane amounts of energy.
Kurost has it right! As for a tree "growing" a daffodil, it would be from the seed of the flower, not the DNA of the tree! Many other plants have been grown on trees, mistletoe for a start! But that is a parasite, and does NOT affect the DNA of the tree.
This is a good debate with some fine comments from both sides. At least we don't have anyone screaming YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOUR DNA! END OF STORY! GET REAL! LISTEN UP! LET ME SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU!
I honestly don't think any of us know enough about this to definitively say either way and it appears neither have the scientists, although the consensus seems to be in favour.
I've read that developing cancer is a DNA change. What then of those that overcome it?
Brysing mentioned trees. If you look at the Plane trees in London, they have had to adapt to the smoky environment and shed their bark in patches to cope; the associated moth itself adapting by taking on the colour of the bark.
If these 'lowlier' beings can change their DNA without knowing it, what of us with our great minds; something we still haven't yet learned to use without allowing fear and doubt to enter into the equation: something we use automatically, without thinking, just on the verge of touching greatness.
DNA is a relatively new science. As enlightened folk we should keep up with the latest and not cry out the hackneyed slogans of the early days.
YOU CAN NOT CHANGE YOUR DNA! Just wanted to put that because of the above comment.
Listen I don't know what you are trying to turn into and don't know why you are spending so much time trying to make it seem like a possibility in your head, but in the end you will find that all of this science talk is going to end in failed dreams and hopes being set so high that it's going to hurt even more when they found out they spent all there time focusing on something that really was impossible with magick. You my friend are just adding to the fluff on this site.
To point out with the plane trees of London and the moths these are adaptations that occur over generations. They do not change their DNA. What actually happened is that the moths that naturally possessed a dark color (caused by a recessive gene passed on by the parents) were able to camouflage better against the pollutant covered bark and escape predation where as the white moths were easily spotted by birds and killed thus were not able to have children and so over a few generations all the moths became darker. That is how adaptation works, individuals do not change their genetics and at no point did a white moths become dark. Just to point that out.
Overcoming cancer? Well that's done either by the bodies immune response to newly expressed cell surface proteins on the cell caused by the mutation or by the intervention of drugs killing the mutated cells. The cells do not revert to a healthy state but are removed/killed.
(ps sorry Kurost I wasn't trying to imply you were saying it possible to grow wings it was just a common example off the sight I picked to use)
I wouldn't deny what you're saying Murfie, generational possibly, but very quickly, much like fruit flies. Yet they are changing their DNA. How else would the future generations adapt? It is not the environment that is making the changes.
I wish I could find the article that I read not so long ago, but one's genes (dna) have shown evidence of altering based upon environmental factors. Mental trauma, extreme conditions, chemical stimulus, etc. have shown to cause changes in brain chemistry, physical development. Studies have shown that these changes occur at a genetic level as well.
However, in all of these circumstances it requires conditioning of such a degree as to potentially cause mental illness and physical ailments. None of it occurs instantaneously through wishful thinking, heh.
So, strictly speaking, it might be possible to cause some genetic alteration through repeated applications of "magic" that alters brain chemistry and so forth. But, on the other hand, nothing would 'cause rapid cellular growth and change so as to promote vast changes to the body's appearance or how it works.
