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Smoking “causes hundreds of DNA changes”

bbc.com

11–20 of 259 posts

Re: Smoking “causes hundreds of DNA changes”

#11
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If mutation is the engine of evolution, an increase in mutation should mean an increase in the speed of evolution. Obviously not on the scales we're talking about here, but the premise doesn't seem too unsound, external pressures being equal.

Mutations can be beneficial, benign, or harmful. Smoking obviously only really creates the latter two.

That's definitely not obvious. I would agree that mutations due to smoking could be in majority harmful due to the chemical components and the high temperatures involved. Other than that, a mutation is a mutation, whether due to smoke, nuclear irradiation, high altitude, or chance. In all cases, they can be beneficial or harmful. The evolution process will then cause only the beneficial ones to perdure.

Re: Smoking “causes hundreds of DNA changes”

#12

I wonder if drinking does the same?

I would expect so.

Alcohol can cause inflammation, triggering various parts of the immune system to kick in. This could result in the release of free radicals from these immune cells, which promotes DNA mutations.

Re: Smoking “causes hundreds of DNA changes”

#13

I wonder if drinking does the same?

I would expect so. Alcohol can cause inflammation, triggering various parts of the immune system to kick in. This could result in the release of free radicals from these immune cells, which promotes DNA mutations.

Alcohol (ethanol) is a Type 1 / Group A carcinogen.[1]

1. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/g...

Re: Smoking “causes hundreds of DNA changes”

#16

Does anyone know the baseline rate for mutations for a non-smoker? Edit: Corrected autocorrect

I read the original study and yes, they did compare it to lifelong non-smokers. However, as far as I saw they only compared people with cancer. And the numbers were usually increased for smokers and the smokers usually ended up with more of a certain kind of cancer.

Re: Smoking “causes hundreds of DNA changes”

#17
post #11
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mutations can be beneficial, benign, or harmful. Smoking obviously only really creates the latter two.

That's definitely not obvious. I would agree that mutations due to smoking could be in majority harmful due to the chemical components and the high temperatures involved. Other than that, a mutation is a mutation, whether due to smoke, nuclear irradiation, high altitude, or chance. In all cases, they can be beneficial or harmful. The evolution process will then cause only the beneficial ones to perdure.

> The evolution process will then cause only the beneficial ones to perdure.

This isn't correct and is a common misconception about evolution. The process which does this is natural selection, and it only occurs through the organism being unable to reproduce as well as an organism with beneficial evolutionary changes.

With humans in the modern world, there is no natural selection because of state benefits that keep people alive and able to reproduce who would usually be unable to do so in a world without safety nets.

So in the modern world, any evolution in humanity - either positive or negative - will perdure. In effect we've ended the traditional form of evolution ages ago when we became civilized.

Re: Smoking “causes hundreds of DNA changes”

#18
post #9

How addictive is tobacco/smoking as compared to Opiates/Heroin?

Considering opiate withdraw can cause death I'd say tobacco is less addictive

Opioid withdrawal while uncomfortable generally does not lead to death.

However withdrawal from benzodiazepines and alcohol are both very dangerous and can lead to death.

http://americanaddictioncenters.org/withdrawal-timelines-tre...

Re: Smoking “causes hundreds of DNA changes”

#20

Does anyone know the baseline rate for mutations for a non-smoker? Edit: Corrected autocorrect

"In the absence of mutagens, an average gene will mutate about once in a million generations. ~10^16 cell divisions occur in a typical life span so somewhere in cells that are part of you each of your genes has mutated 10^10 times (hence cancer). Only mutations in the germ line can be passed on to the next generation. You have about 50 mutations that your parents dont have (mutations that happened in the egg or sperm that made you up)-each of your parents in turn have passed on ~50 mutants that their parents dont have."

Source: an email from my undergrad genetics professor

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