Stranger things

[old3bob]

 

Video showing that many Russians are not so different than  people anywhere and who want to live decent lives along with many also wanting to visit or live in the modest countryside homes and enjoy more natural ways...(I'd say away from the harsh realities and or very tough conditions that many of their civilian's live under in big cities that we in the west often hear reported about) 

 

 

we have also met humanity and he/she is us...

 

Edited January 18 by old3bob

[Nungali]

Prepare yourself for a shock oldbob ..... 

 

there are people like that all over the world  in all sorts of countries  !   

 

Now, who is trying to convince us  that 'they' are strange and dangerous  ?   The ones that are strange and dangerous in their own countries ! 

 

 

 

[old3bob]

no shit dude,  

 

 

[Taomeow]

On 1/18/2026 at 1:11 PM, Nungali said:

strange and dangerous in their own countries ! 

 

 

A strange and dangerous Russian just delivered some food to my home.  He owns a fishing boat.  He fishes, and then he sells his catch to the Russian, Ukrainian, etc. local community, some of it freshly caught (not frozen) and some of it smoked.  He does the smoking (cold and hot) himself too.  His prices are very competitive and he charges nothing for delivery.  He also makes some foods at home that only Russians and Ukrainians eat (and can't live without), and delivers those too.  The ordering process is a mess, timing of arrival more on the "whatever" side, I wound up buying something I didn't order and not getting what I did order.  Doesn't matter, it's all delicious and either can't be bought elsewhere, would take me hours of work if I were to make it myself, or very competitively priced.  Dangerous because I am inclined to buy more for his trouble than I was planning on, strange because nothing about the operation is business-like, it's so informal and haphazard -- yet convenient and delicious.  I remember things being done this way, old country old school...  Now it's almost exotic.    

[old3bob]

 

one of my distant relatives made pork jerky or bacon like strips from wild pigs which I tried one time but he put so much salt and pepper into it that I could hardly eat it, thus it was a little meat with your main course of salt and pepper!

[Taomeow]

18 minutes ago, old3bob said:

 

one of my distant relatives made pork jerky or bacon like strips from wild pigs which I tried one time but he put so much salt and pepper into it that I could hardly eat it, thus it was a little meat with your main course of salt and pepper!

 

What a pity.  

I used to know how to preserve fish with just salt and sunlight -- no pepper was used but a whole lot of salt.  This fish was a special kind of treat, you only ate it with beer, not as a meal but as a side snack.  It was chewy and could get hard like wood if you overdried it, but nobody minded, it was a beer-side classic and surely beat chips hands down. 

[liminal_luke]

3 hours ago, Taomeow said:

 

A strange and dangerous Russian just delivered some food to my home.  

 

Caring about craft more than money is always dangerous, but in the best way.

[Nungali]

For decades I have been doubting the concept of ' rubbish DNA '  ,  thinking that , at that stage , they just did not know its functions . 

 

Concurrently I have been looking into 'Genetic Consciousness '  ,  ancestors , traits and 'memories '  (  Neurogenetic circuit  - C 7 ;  https://dreamflesh.com/essay/the-neuropharmacology-of-an-eight-circuit-brain/   ) 

 

So I did a check in on that ... using AI 

 

Recent research indicates that what was once dismissed as 'junk DNA'—specifically non-coding DNA—plays a vital, active role in brain plasticity, allowing for the formation, stabilization, and extinction of fear-related memories. These non-coding regions are actively transcribed into long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and can undergo structural changes (such as Z-DNA formation) that act as molecular switches for memory flexibility. 

Impairments in these processes are linked to the inability to extinguish fear, a key feature of phobias and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Here is how specific types of 'junk DNA' / non-coding RNA function in fear memories and phobias:

 

Spoiler

 

. Regulation of 'Fear Extinction' (Unlearning Fear)

The most critical role of non-coding DNA is in fear extinction, the process of creating new, non-fearful memories that compete with the original fearful memory. 

• ADRAM (Activity-Dependent lncRNA Associated with Memory): Researchers discovered that ADRAM acts as a molecular scaffold, bridging environmental signals with neural responses, specifically aiding in the formation of fear-extinction memory.
• Gas5 (Growth Arrest-Specific 5): A specific variant of the lncRNA Gas5 accumulates at the synapse (the connection point between neurons) in the brain's prefrontal cortex following fear extinction training.
• Mechanism of Action: When Gas5 is present, it organizes RNA granules (structures containing messenger RNA and proteins) at the synapse, regulating how neurons respond to stimuli and controlling synaptic plasticity. If this 'junk DNA' product is knocked down or reduced, fear extinction memory is severely impaired, causing the fear to persist. 

 

2. Structural Flexibility (Z-DNA)

'Junk DNA' can switch structures based on environmental stimuli, providing the plasticity needed for memory. 

• Z-DNA: During fear, DNA in certain regions can switch from the standard B-DNA to a counter-clockwise Z-DNA structure.
• ADAR1 Binding: During fear extinction, an enzyme called ADAR1 binds to this Z-DNA to increase RNA editing and then flips the structure back to B-DNA.
• Plasticity: The faster this switch occurs, the more flexible the memory, allowing for a rapid reduction in fear. 

 

3. Molecular Scaffolding and RNA Trafficking

Non-coding RNAs often function as scaffolding for other molecules, particularly in synaptic compartments. 

• RNA Granule Trafficking: Gas5 interacts with RNA-binding proteins like G3BP2 and CAPRIN1 to regulate the movement and clustering of RNA granules at the synapse.
• Local Translation: This, in turn, influences the local translation of proteins (like AMPA receptors) at the synapse, which is necessary for changing synaptic strength (plasticity) and forming the memory of safety. 

 

4. Epigenetic Regulation

Non-coding regions are involved in epigenetic mechanisms, meaning they control whether genes are active or inactive without changing the DNA sequence itself. 

• Chromatin Changes: Experience-dependent changes in the chromatin landscape—the structure of DNA and its associated proteins—are regulated by non-coding RNAs in the adult brain.
• Gomafu (Miat): Another non-coding RNA, Gomafu, has been shown to undergo down-regulation during fear conditioning, which then allows for the increased expression of genes (like Crybb1) that promote fear-related anxiety. 

 

Summary of Function in Phobias

• Persistent Fear (Phobias): If the 'junk DNA' (e.g., Gas5, ADRAM) is not producing the necessary lncRNAs, the brain cannot effectively form memories of safety, leading to the continued, rigid, and fearful responses characteristic of phobias and PTSD.
• Therapeutic Potential: By targeting these specific long non-coding RNAs, scientists believe they can develop new, selective therapies for PTSD and phobias by "rewiring" how the brain responds to fear. 

 

 

 

[Taomeow]

10 hours ago, Nungali said:

For decades I have been doubting the concept of ' rubbish DNA '  ,  thinking that , at that stage , they just did not know its functions . 

 

Concurrently I have been looking into 'Genetic Consciousness '  ,  ancestors , traits and 'memories '  (  Neurogenetic circuit  - C 7 ;  https://dreamflesh.com/essay/the-neuropharmacology-of-an-eight-circuit-brain/   ) 

 

So I did a check in on that ... using AI 

 

Recent research indicates that what was once dismissed as 'junk DNA'—specifically non-coding DNA—plays a vital, active role in brain plasticity, allowing for the formation, stabilization, and extinction of fear-related memories. These non-coding regions are actively transcribed into long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and can undergo structural changes (such as Z-DNA formation) that act as molecular switches for memory flexibility. 

Impairments in these processes are linked to the inability to extinguish fear, a key feature of phobias and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Here is how specific types of 'junk DNA' / non-coding RNA function in fear memories and phobias:

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

. Regulation of 'Fear Extinction' (Unlearning Fear)

The most critical role of non-coding DNA is in fear extinction, the process of creating new, non-fearful memories that compete with the original fearful memory. 

• ADRAM (Activity-Dependent lncRNA Associated with Memory): Researchers discovered that ADRAM acts as a molecular scaffold, bridging environmental signals with neural responses, specifically aiding in the formation of fear-extinction memory.
• Gas5 (Growth Arrest-Specific 5): A specific variant of the lncRNA Gas5 accumulates at the synapse (the connection point between neurons) in the brain's prefrontal cortex following fear extinction training.
• Mechanism of Action: When Gas5 is present, it organizes RNA granules (structures containing messenger RNA and proteins) at the synapse, regulating how neurons respond to stimuli and controlling synaptic plasticity. If this 'junk DNA' product is knocked down or reduced, fear extinction memory is severely impaired, causing the fear to persist. 

 

2. Structural Flexibility (Z-DNA)

'Junk DNA' can switch structures based on environmental stimuli, providing the plasticity needed for memory. 

• Z-DNA: During fear, DNA in certain regions can switch from the standard B-DNA to a counter-clockwise Z-DNA structure.
• ADAR1 Binding: During fear extinction, an enzyme called ADAR1 binds to this Z-DNA to increase RNA editing and then flips the structure back to B-DNA.
• Plasticity: The faster this switch occurs, the more flexible the memory, allowing for a rapid reduction in fear. 

 

3. Molecular Scaffolding and RNA Trafficking

Non-coding RNAs often function as scaffolding for other molecules, particularly in synaptic compartments. 

• RNA Granule Trafficking: Gas5 interacts with RNA-binding proteins like G3BP2 and CAPRIN1 to regulate the movement and clustering of RNA granules at the synapse.
• Local Translation: This, in turn, influences the local translation of proteins (like AMPA receptors) at the synapse, which is necessary for changing synaptic strength (plasticity) and forming the memory of safety. 

 

4. Epigenetic Regulation

Non-coding regions are involved in epigenetic mechanisms, meaning they control whether genes are active or inactive without changing the DNA sequence itself. 

• Chromatin Changes: Experience-dependent changes in the chromatin landscape—the structure of DNA and its associated proteins—are regulated by non-coding RNAs in the adult brain.
• Gomafu (Miat): Another non-coding RNA, Gomafu, has been shown to undergo down-regulation during fear conditioning, which then allows for the increased expression of genes (like Crybb1) that promote fear-related anxiety. 

 

Summary of Function in Phobias

• Persistent Fear (Phobias): If the 'junk DNA' (e.g., Gas5, ADRAM) is not producing the necessary lncRNAs, the brain cannot effectively form memories of safety, leading to the continued, rigid, and fearful responses characteristic of phobias and PTSD.
• Therapeutic Potential: By targeting these specific long non-coding RNAs, scientists believe they can develop new, selective therapies for PTSD and phobias by "rewiring" how the brain responds to fear. 

 

 

 

 

Very interesting, thank you. 

 

I, too, have never believed in 'junk DNA."  I also never believed in what was once "settled science"-- that the tonsils and the appendix are obsolete unnecessary organs, that there is such a thing as an "overreactive immune system" (instead I'm convinced there's immune systems damaged by wrongful interventions), or "high cholesterol" in need of statins, or that perfectly healthy wisdom teeth are to be removed "preventively" (a widespread practice in our parts), or that our knees were designed to work for 40 years and then evolution meant for us to die (the fact that we have the longest-maturing offspring on Earth and therefore the existence of elderly grandparents was crucial to the survival not only of the tribe but of the species itself never occurred to the "reproduce and die" theory proponents) -- to name a few.