February 22, 2010
Dolphins May Hold Cure for Type 2 Diabetes
These intelligent animals have the ability to turn insulin
resistance on and off when desirable.
Dolphins May Hold Cure for Type 2 Diabetes
These intelligent animals have the ability to turn insulin
resistance on and off when desirable.
SUMMARY: Dolphins are the only creatures besides humans that can develop
a natural form of type 2 diabetes, according to new research. Researchers
have discovered that bottlenosed dolphins show a form of insulin resistance
like that seen in human diabetes, but they have the ability to turn this state on
and off when appropriate.
In type 2 diabetes, the body acquires resistance to insulin--a hormone that
controls blood sugar. If the scientists can learn how these animals switch off
their insulin resistance before it becomes damaging, it could lead to a cure.
About 5% of human deaths globally are due to diabetes.
This unexpected discovery resulted from a study of more than 1,000 blood
samples taken from 52 dolphins. When the animals fasted overnight, their
blood sugar remained high, and their blood chemistry changed in ways similar
to diabetic patients. However, unlike human blood, the dolphins' blood
reverted back to normal once the dolphins ate.
Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, a veterinary epidemiologist at the US National
Marine Mammal Foundation, suggested that controlled diabetes might be
beneficial to dolphins. Their fish diet is high in protein and low in sugar and
they can go a long time without eating. By making their bodies resistant to
insulin while fasting, they can keep their large brains well supplied with sugar.
Upon eating though, the insulin resistance stops to prevent damage to their
health.
However, Dr. Venn-Watson spoke out against using dolphins as laboratory
animals as "their large brains and high intelligence would make this unethical."
Yet, there is no other ideal animal model for type 2 diabetes. Some other
animals display some aspects of diabetes, but none mimics the disease as
closely as dolphins.
Mark Simmonds, international head of science at the Whale and Dolphin
Conservation Society, also said there were ethical objections to using dolphins
and that they were too distantly related from humans to be useful. "It is a
grave concern that dolphins might be used in biomedical research. Dolphins
are intelligent and sophisticated animals, vulnerable to stress and suffering
when confined and removed from their natural environment,” he added.
To read the entire article, click on this link to THE TIMES.
COMMENT: Here we have another remarkable story of how a mere animal
has a gift which could eventually prove useful for millions of humans
worldwide. How is it that we intelligent Homo sapiens haven't been able to
figure out how to do something (turning insulin resistance on and off at will)
which the dolphins can apparently accomplish quite easily?
Could it be that God in His wisdom has given the dolphin this gift and that He
has now allowed scientists to discover it so that it could really be helpful for
humankind in the future? May God bless the efforts of scientists in using this
newfound knowledge to help the many people who are suffering from type 2
diabetes.
But this story clearly provides another example of how the theory of evolution
can hamper the advance of science. Note what Stephanie Venn-Watson and
Mark Simmonds said about using dolphins as research animals. Apparently
dolphins, which are admittedly very intelligent animals, are too "highly evolved"
to allow them to become involved in laboratory experiments.
However, why should this opinion of scientists like Venn-Watson and Simmonds
prevail over the permission given us in the Bible to use animals to serve us?
(Genesis 1:26-28) There is a wide gulf separating humans and animals,
despite some physical similarities in many cases. Christians are insulted
to be called animals, which this article does in the first eight words: "Dolphins
are the only animals apart from humans. . ."
God will decide whether this discovery about dolphins will one day lead to a
cure for Type 2 diabetes. Meanwhile, diabetics need to remember their bodies
are "temples of the Holy Spirit" and so should treat their condition accordingly.
And we all, regardless of what infirmities we may suffer, can anticipate the day
when perfect health will be restored, in heaven, but only for those who have
had their souls washed clean through faith in Jesus as the Savior.
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****************************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Is the vision of Americans getting worse?
****************************************************************************************************
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including
those containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity
or advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please
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a natural form of type 2 diabetes, according to new research. Researchers
have discovered that bottlenosed dolphins show a form of insulin resistance
like that seen in human diabetes, but they have the ability to turn this state on
and off when appropriate.
In type 2 diabetes, the body acquires resistance to insulin--a hormone that
controls blood sugar. If the scientists can learn how these animals switch off
their insulin resistance before it becomes damaging, it could lead to a cure.
About 5% of human deaths globally are due to diabetes.
This unexpected discovery resulted from a study of more than 1,000 blood
samples taken from 52 dolphins. When the animals fasted overnight, their
blood sugar remained high, and their blood chemistry changed in ways similar
to diabetic patients. However, unlike human blood, the dolphins' blood
reverted back to normal once the dolphins ate.
Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, a veterinary epidemiologist at the US National
Marine Mammal Foundation, suggested that controlled diabetes might be
beneficial to dolphins. Their fish diet is high in protein and low in sugar and
they can go a long time without eating. By making their bodies resistant to
insulin while fasting, they can keep their large brains well supplied with sugar.
Upon eating though, the insulin resistance stops to prevent damage to their
health.
However, Dr. Venn-Watson spoke out against using dolphins as laboratory
animals as "their large brains and high intelligence would make this unethical."
Yet, there is no other ideal animal model for type 2 diabetes. Some other
animals display some aspects of diabetes, but none mimics the disease as
closely as dolphins.
Mark Simmonds, international head of science at the Whale and Dolphin
Conservation Society, also said there were ethical objections to using dolphins
and that they were too distantly related from humans to be useful. "It is a
grave concern that dolphins might be used in biomedical research. Dolphins
are intelligent and sophisticated animals, vulnerable to stress and suffering
when confined and removed from their natural environment,” he added.
To read the entire article, click on this link to THE TIMES.
COMMENT: Here we have another remarkable story of how a mere animal
has a gift which could eventually prove useful for millions of humans
worldwide. How is it that we intelligent Homo sapiens haven't been able to
figure out how to do something (turning insulin resistance on and off at will)
which the dolphins can apparently accomplish quite easily?
Could it be that God in His wisdom has given the dolphin this gift and that He
has now allowed scientists to discover it so that it could really be helpful for
humankind in the future? May God bless the efforts of scientists in using this
newfound knowledge to help the many people who are suffering from type 2
diabetes.
But this story clearly provides another example of how the theory of evolution
can hamper the advance of science. Note what Stephanie Venn-Watson and
Mark Simmonds said about using dolphins as research animals. Apparently
dolphins, which are admittedly very intelligent animals, are too "highly evolved"
to allow them to become involved in laboratory experiments.
However, why should this opinion of scientists like Venn-Watson and Simmonds
prevail over the permission given us in the Bible to use animals to serve us?
(Genesis 1:26-28) There is a wide gulf separating humans and animals,
despite some physical similarities in many cases. Christians are insulted
to be called animals, which this article does in the first eight words: "Dolphins
are the only animals apart from humans. . ."
God will decide whether this discovery about dolphins will one day lead to a
cure for Type 2 diabetes. Meanwhile, diabetics need to remember their bodies
are "temples of the Holy Spirit" and so should treat their condition accordingly.
And we all, regardless of what infirmities we may suffer, can anticipate the day
when perfect health will be restored, in heaven, but only for those who have
had their souls washed clean through faith in Jesus as the Savior.
****************************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
****************************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Is the vision of Americans getting worse?
****************************************************************************************************
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including
those containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity
or advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please
allow several hours for it to appear on the blog.
*****************************************************************************************************
0 Comments
| LSI stands for the Lutheran Science Institute, an organization of WELS and ELS Lutherans interested in science and health issues with a special emphasis on the creation and evolution controversy. This blog's purpose is to search the Internet to find articles of interest to Christians. Views expressed are those of the author (Warren Krug) and are not necessarily those of the Lutheran Science Institute, Inc. |
It seems to be. The National Eye Institute reports
a 66% increase in myopia (nearsightedness)
among adults since the 1970s. That equals 47
million people. Moreover, there has been a swing
from mild to more severe myopia. The reason for
the increase is not known, but more of us are
spending more time doing "near work" (staring at
computer screens and small electronic devices).
Source: Parade (2/7/10)
a 66% increase in myopia (nearsightedness)
among adults since the 1970s. That equals 47
million people. Moreover, there has been a swing
from mild to more severe myopia. The reason for
the increase is not known, but more of us are
spending more time doing "near work" (staring at
computer screens and small electronic devices).
Source: Parade (2/7/10)
