Hi:

 

Sorry to bother the group with another question. I'm really interested in hypothetical stuff.

 

Let's say the human body is modified so that the transverse colon has new cells that safely filter out the following from the bloodstream [and carry them out of the body via the stools] without removing anything else from the blood:

 

1. Cholesterol

2. Glycerol

3. Saturated fats

4. Saturated fatty acids

5. Trans fats

6. Trans fatty acids

7. Homocysteine [an amino acid that damages arteries]

8. LDLs

9. IDLs [intermediate-density lipoproteins]

10. VLDLs

11. Chylomicrons

 

In addition, another modification is made. Microscopic new vessels directly carry molecules of fat out from the visceral adipocytes into the colon [then out of the body via the feces]. This would safely treat abdominal obesity.

 

Let's say the subject's immune system does not go against the new cells and vessels facilitated by the modifications.

 

What would be the disadvantages if both modifications were made on a human body? Would anyone want to volunteer for these modifications considering they would live much longer and still be able to eat buttercream desserts and not exercise?

 

 

Thanks,

 

Green Xenon

Cholesterol is vital for maintaining cell membranes. Glycerol is an important too, i think.

The idea to genetically modify one's body instead to just eat healthy, good quality food seems absurd to me. Also, in some situations, you may actually need the ability to digest saturated or trans fats, just because there is no other food source, for example.

Why not remove stuff from the blood via the kidneys as has been done for millions of years?

Why not remove stuff from the blood via the kidneys as has been done for millions of years?

 

Greasy substances will clog up the kidneys.

The problem is that these things aren't all baddies, often elevated levels of them means some problem with regulation. You'd need an alternate form of regulation to control the removal of them, one which is also linked to any regulatory process they are involved in. You also need to work out whether removing them has any positive effect.

this is one of the problems green xenon had in his last thread about haphazard genetic modifications.

 

he doesn't seem to understandthat just because a substance can be bad in excess quantities doesn't mean that it is bad in all quantities greater than zero.