X-Message-Number: 13299
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: about vaccinating against NMDA receptors
Date: Sat, 26 Feb 100 00:05:41 +1100 (EST)

Hi everyone!

This oral vaccine (I havent got the issue of SCIENCE that it was published
in, but I will) against brain damage targets a molecule which plays a
double role. In case you havent been following research on how memory
works, NMDA plays a major role in the early process of forming new
memories. In most neurons using glutamate as their transmission chemical,
activation of NMDA receptors causes Long Term Potentiation (LTP for short)
which then causes activation of other genes to create new synapses between
neurons. Every step in this path has been experimentally verified, though
to be fair, we'd like to know that it happens with all neurons involved
with memory (apparently some neurons in special regions acquire memory
without activating NMDA receptors).

It's therefore VERY important that this vaccine not work permanently. 
Otherwise it will only give us the choice between never being able to 
remember another new thing or of being immune to most brain damage. Not
a nice choice, yes? Surely we want something much better.

If you've been reading PERIASTRON you would have read about this work. 

			Best and long long life,

				Thomas Donaldson

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