Title: Misery index (Health)

URL: http://extensivereadingprogram.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-build-dog-science.html?utm_source=BP_recent

http://www.economist.com/node/21552539

Reading Time: 12minutes

Level of Difficulty: 3

Summary:

Biologists are starting to understand why low social status is bad for your health. To investigate this phenomenon relates to social hierarchies, scientists were searching for correlations between social rank and gene activity.Finally, they found that glucocorticoids, which regulate immune-system activity and response to stress played an important rule. However, the destiny wasn’t such absolute.They can be wiped away and changes in gene expression appropriate to the new status quickly followed. Those who do break free from their lowly station, then, may begin to reap the health benefits immediately.

Feedback/Comment:

The result is based on the research about macaques. After reading the article ,you would know that glucocorticoids and genes can control immune-system activity and response to stress. In particular, low-status individuals showed high levels of activity in genes associated with inflammation .It was the sign of sickness.As a result, it seems reasonable because most of the celebrity can face the challenge and make a good deal with friends. Moreover,they always put much attention on health and diet. Even though ,you were very intelligent and had a high status,you still needed to live longer.Otherwise,you may die first before your dream was realized. As with any animal study, this one cannot simply be mapped straight onto humans. But it does provide pointers that researchers who work on people can use. In particular, the experiment ensured that social rank was the only factor being changed, providing strong evidence that the chain of causality runs from low social status, through a disrupted immune system to worse health.In my opnion , whether your genes and immune system is bad or not, promotion and determination are still the most important factors.

 Discussion Issues

1. We observed monkeys and get the conclusion. Is it result suitable to human?