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banuk_sickness_eater OP t1_j39km6e wrote

Reply to comment by userbrn1 in How to Prepare for the AI Assisted Life Extension Escape Velocity by banuk_sickness_eater

Although the genome is largely static throughout an individual's life, there are a few mechanisms that can lead to changes in the genome. One mechanism is mutation, which is a change in the DNA sequence that can occur as a result of errors during DNA replication or exposure to certain environmental factors, such as radiation (not just the via the likes of Polonium, think UV radiation) or chemicals. Mutations can result in changes to an individual's genetic makeup and can be passed down to future generations.

Another mechanism that can lead to changes in the genome is epigenetic modification, which refers to the process by which certain chemical modifications to DNA or to the proteins that DNA is wrapped around (called histones) can alter the expression of specific genes without changing the underlying DNA sequence. Epigenetic modifications can be influenced by a variety of factors, including diet, stress, and environmental exposures, and they can have an impact on an individual's traits and susceptibility to certain diseases.

So, while the genome is largely static throughout an individual's life, there are mechanisms that can influence it's mutation as you age, thus the recommendation to procure a "save state".

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Cryptizard t1_j39nw7c wrote

  1. Commercial sequencing mashes together the DNA from thousands of cells, and your recommended "ultra" sequencing reads it 100 times meaning that any individual mutations will be eliminated.

  2. Epigenetics do not change the DNS that is sequenced so have nothing to do with your "save point."

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banuk_sickness_eater OP t1_j39pcjh wrote

1.) The ultra sequencing I've recommended specifically searches for and reports on individual mutations including both coding and non-coding regions.

2.) DNA, as I assume you meant DNA, is the substrate for epigenetic regulation, and changes in the epigenetic marks on DNA can influence the expression of specific genes and have an impact on an individual's traits and susceptibility to certain diseases. Via high-throughput whole genome NGS, the ultra sequence also provides parsable insight into the epigenome.

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