As we learned in Part 1 health and disease are not set in stone based solely on your heredity and DNA. You may be wondering – why is that again? 1) DNA is not self-activating, DNA is activated by signals picked up via the cell’s environment. In this post we will go into greater detail of how the cell is able to perceive its environment. 2) Human beings have approximately 25,000 genes, and when acting alone they cannot account for the wide variety of proteins that exist in the human body.

As a brief refresher, 25,000 may sound like a lot of genes, but for a true perspective of how small this number is – a primitive worm comprised of a mere 969 cells has whopping 24,000 genes – only 1,000 less genes then the highly complex 50 trillion celled human organism.  From this perspective we can see that 25,000 genes really just ain’t a whole lotta of genes! The truth is when it comes to genes, health and disease there is a lot more going on than meets the eye. As mentioned in part 1 DNA is coiled around histone proteins, which contract and expand in response to external environmental factors (making genes readable, unreadable or partially readable) The truth is our genes are not set in stone, they are constantly adapting and evolving with our perception to the environment.

Question: How are genes switched on and off, and read in variations of up to 2,000 different programs in response to what is going on the in the environment? 

Answer: Through the Cell Membrane and it’s Protein Helpers

Awareness of the environment is the function of the cell membrane. The cell membrane is the microscopic perceiver to each individual cell…which means there are 50 trillion celled perceivers reading the environment of your human body! You have a world within make no mistake! Genes are activated through the signals registered and translated by the cell membrane via receptor proteins. DNA is not a pre-programmed molecule acting on it’s own – DNA is a program that once signaled responds in accordance to meet the needs communicated by the cell membrane.

A cell is a microscopic organism that must survive by breathing, ingesting, eliminating waste and moving to safe environments, as well as away from dangerous or toxic environments. Just like you and me, each cell must be able to perceive and function it is environment to survive.

For our purposes of this article I will relay a simplified explanation of the cell membrane and edit out the various biological classifications as not to loose too many readers uninterested in the scientific jargon! But even the simplified version is incredibly beautiful to understand. (At the bottom of this article is a 10 minute video that takes you into the elaborate world of your cells for those interested)

Each cell has thousands of receptor proteins on its membrane. The membrane is made up of a phospholipid structure that is flexible in shape with a double-sided polarized layer and non-polarized interior that acts as a barrier to the internal and external environment of the cell. Each protein receptor within the membrane is an evolved awareness of intelligence that is able to translate signals into function. The cell membrane reads the signals from the environment and translates these signals into behavior, as well as ingesting and eliminating life sustaining nutrients.  For example, “When estrogen is in its receptor’s neighborhood, the estrogen receptor locks on to it, as surely as a magnet picks up paper clips. Once the estrogen receptor and estrogen molecule bind in a perfect ‘lock and key’ fit.” (Lipton Biology of Belief) Once a molecule “key” fits into the “lock” of its receptor, the cell membrane triggers a domino effect of events within the cell, translating information to organelles and the DNA to release molecules and proteins into the body for life sustaining and functionality purposes.

Question: How does it help you to understand that genes are activated based on what the cell membrane perceives of its environment? How can you use this understanding to benefit your life and health?

Here is a short video to give you a glimpse:

Although there are 50 trillion living cells within you, you are the ultimate perciever – effecting your health and the function of the world within you. Your thoughts, limiting beliefs, repeating patterns of stress, conflict or challenges effect your physiology. But the good news is, like your DNA, your perceptions and challenges are not set in stone. You can shift limiting patterns and transform all challenges into healing and purpose by accessing the wisdom of your Higher Mind.

We’ll delve more into how thoughts and emotions effect your health and life in future posts…