THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

                Ancient human ancestors would probably have aged beyond hundred years on the average life expectancy. The oldest biblical person, Methuselah, lived about 937 years.  If one were to consider the genomic map of the world and the timeline created by the scientists at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbour in collaboration with other geneticists working on a Human Genome Diversity Project, a reasonable question is, “How could the homo erectus from 1.8 million years survive into a homo sapiens who emerged only last 50,000 years ago?” To continue the query, “How can one reconcile the survival of man 50,000 years ago through biblical times until the present? Beyond any stretch of the imagination, it sounds fantastic to even consider but believe it; science is able to prove that a survival mode can happen as evidenced by the transfer of genetic marker common among our ancient predecessors in Africa as they and their offspring travelled to distant places around the world: Addis Ababa to South America.

                Correlating the survival factor of ancient man, the circumstances of their existence had to play a major part. What was their life style? Since they were mostly hunters, they had to be mobile with great physical strength. Their habitat which was Africa was conducive to their survival because their continent was sufficient in sunshine with a warm or hot climate. Their bodies would endure the stress of any climatic change from warm to very hot and then, rainy cold weather but never frigid wintry temperature. As they moved to other places through the ages, they settled in places like Mesopotamia where the first fork plow was invented. Thus began the first farming activity of the ancients on or before 3000 B.C. They probably experienced their first sedentary activity when the first wheel from a solid wood was invented in 3800 – 3600 B.C. Therefore, all through these thousands of years, physical activity was a major part of their ‘life style’.

                Why was physical activity brought about by constant mobility essential in the survival of the ancient human race? Certainly, if they did not move, they had nothing to eat. But more important is the fact that when they were on the go all the time, their bodies were producing significant proteins, referred to recent scientific studies as “HSPs” (Hot Shock Proteins). Chemically identified by their functions to particular proteins they work on or “chaperon”, the HSPs do the following: assisting newly formed amino acids shape properly, dismantling them if damaged (degenerated proteins), escorting them to their partners, shielding them from “evil” ones, or even, acting as Trojan horses against pathogens like cancers.

                How did the ancient ancestors get these “HSPs”? Unwittingly, they built them up by their regular mobility. In 21^st century lingo,   that action is known as physical exercise, one of the elements to the secret to longevity. Exercise increases body temperature consequently producing “HSPs”. The stress caused by the exercise is beneficial as it improves the immune system to responses against infection and pathogens. If our ancient ancestors were constantly stressed physically, they created an excellent natural immunity system, thereby staying healthy for many long life years.

                As many of us take heed to the doctor’s advice to regularly exercise, we are only aware that it will help lower blood pressure, induce lower heart rate, make the heart stronger, build up a better immune system, etc. Now, we know what is happening molecularly in the inner recesses of our blood stream. During a Bridge lecture at the Ateneo University in Quezon City, Nobel laureate for Chemistry 2006 Dr. Chikanover called it the ubiquity protein when he discovered how one partner with a degenerated protein so that a new one can be formed. He dramatically referred to as the ‘dance of death’ for another to be born.

                Various significant researches and manufacturing development are being done on trial stages for possible vaccine drug therapies: Inhibitor HSP, Induction HSP and Immunology HSP treatments. Alvespimycin (breast cancer), tanespimycin , CNF 2024 and SNX-5422 (leukemia, lymphoma, solid tumors), AUY-922 (solid tumors), IPI-504(Melanoma, prostate cancer) BIIBO21 (leukaemia, lymphoma, solid tumors). All of the above consider the HSP90 function as an inhibitor. (Including HSP27, OGX-427 for solid tumor).

                Variety of HSPs using the radio frequency therapy for Melanoma. Heat or chemical induction to induce the patient’s own HSPs to protect an organ during surgical or other treatments.

                Lastly, vaccine or immunotherapy using purified antigenic HSP-peptides is introduced into the body to stimulate an immune response to a tumor or pathogen. In this situation, an HSP from a cancerous cell is isolated, purified and injected back to immunize the body just as individuals are immunized from the disease by the very same micro-organism itself (i.e. snake bites by a vaccine produced from the venom of the snake): AG-707 (Herpes simplex Type 2), HSPPC-70/AG-858 (Chronic myeloid, leukemia) and HSPPC-96/vitespen (approved for clinical use in Russia (solid tumors). (ALL FACTUAL, CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL data and information are credited to the article of Pramod K. Srivastava, New Jobs for Ancient Chaperon, Scientific American, and July 2008).

                Without the technology and modern medicine available at their disposal, how could the ancient ancestors have  to multiply to a sustainable human population? Darwin’s natural selection theory through the help of HSPs and of course, a lot of physical activity. Just consider what would life expectancy be if one is confined in bed because of a lingering sickness with almost no meaningful physical activity? Or, one who is referred to a ‘couch-potato’?

                The moral of this article: GET PHYSICAL. IT IS NATURAL.

 N.B.  Forty nine of this year’s (2008) famous persons who died totalled an average life rate of 80 years. The oldest was 110 and the youngest, 28. Just recently in the Philippines, child actor, Marky Cielo, died at 20 and former singer, Didith Reyes, at 60; both in their sleep.