The supreme influencer has all six attributes of an influencer

One of the most influential entities in today's world is the social media influencer. The all-pervading nature of social media has greatly impacted not just the youth but people across different sociodemographic groups. Therefore, it is impossible to ignore the influence of social media. To attain salvation, one can spread the lord's message through social media to make the best possible use of this influence. 

You must have one or more of the following attributes to be an influencer.

1. Wealth (Example: Ratan Tata used his wealth to positively influence various spheres of society.)
2. Strength (Example: Manoj Kumar Chopra)
3. Fame (Example: LeBron James has fewer followers than Virat Kohli)
4. Knowledge (Example: The mathematician Srinivasan Ramanujan)
5. Beauty (Example: Angelina Jolie)
6. Renunciation (Example: Yogi Adityanath)

Although these influencers wield large influence, this influence is not permanent. With time, wealth, strength, fame, knowledge, beauty and renunciates will be forgotten. We may remember only a small fraction of the influencers of the yesteryears. As more time passes, very few will be remembered. The supreme lord Krishan is the supreme influencer with all six attributes. Hence, his influence is very powerful and lasts for long periods. In the Bhagavad Gita, the supreme lord describes in Chapter 4 that he had imparted the supreme secret to the Sun God and his lineage. However, this knowledge was lost over time. The relevant verses are provided below:

BG 4.1: The Supreme Lord Shree Krishna said: I taught this eternal science of Yog to the Sun God, Vivasvan, who passed it on to Manu; and Manu, in turn, instructed it to Ikshvaku.

BG 4.2: O subduer of enemies, the saintly kings thus received this science of Yog in a continuous tradition. But with the long passage of time, it was lost to the world.

BG 4.3: The same ancient knowledge of Yog, which is the supreme secret, I am today revealing unto you, because you are My friend as well as My devotee, who can understand this transcendental wisdom.

Even the supreme influencer needs to provide knowledge in a form understandable to the people of the current age. Social media influencers can greatly impact society by passing on the spiritual knowledge of the Supreme lord Krishna. 

Viśhwarūp Darśhan Yog: The universal form

Chapter 11: With 55 verses or shlokas, the eleventh chapter is one of three chapters with more than 50 verses. The other chapters are chapter-2 and 18. and it describes the opulence of Lord Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Shloka 5-8,32-34, 47-49, 52-55): 20 Shlokas

Arjuna (Shloka 1-4,15-31, 36-46, 51): 32 Shlokas

Sanjaya (Shloka 9,35, 50): 3 Shlokas

Brief Summary: In this chapter, Arjuna requests Lord Krishna to show his cosmic form/universal form. Lord Krishna blessed Arjuna with divine eyes so that he could see the universal form. Lord Krishna demonstrated (showed) the universal form as follows:

The universal form (Biology):

1. Unlimited mouths
2. Unlimited eyes
3. Unlimited wonderful vision
4. Celestial ornaments
5. Many divine weapons
6. Celestial garlands and garments
7. Divine scent
8. Body with many arms, bellies, mouths and eyes, limitless
9. Terrible teeth
10. Glowing eyes

The universal form (Physics): Radiance of thousand suns, Sun & moon are eyes, blazing fire from the mouth

The universal form (Spiritual): Lord Shiva, Bramha and different sages

Demigods and sages feared the terrific manifestation of the Universal form and surrendered. Everybody looked on in wonder. Even Arjuna was bewildered and amazed, lost his steadiness of the mind. Arjuna could see the heads of sons of Dhrtarastra and their allies smashed between the teeth of the lord. Lord Krishna said except for Pandavas, everyone in the war field will be destroyed; it is already destined, and Arjuna is just an instrument. He guided Arjuna to follow the divine plan. Arjuna once again offered obeisance with folded hands. Arjuna describes the benevolent and fearful aspects of the Lord as the cause of all causes and limitless.

Krishna==Air, fire, water, moon, Brahma, great-grandfather

Arjuna apologised for the offences he committed, considering the Lord to be his friend. Just as a father forgives his son, friend, another friend, husband, and wife, Krishna also tolerates our mistakes. Therefore, Arjuna requests the lord to bestow grace on him. Subsequently, Arjuna requested the lord to be gracious and return to the four-armed form.

Four-armed form:

1. Helmet head
2. Club, Wheel, Conch and Lotus flower in hand

Krishna had not shown his universal form to anyone else as it required divine eyes. No one can see Lord Krishna's universal form in the material world even after studying the Vedas, performing sacrifices and charity, and performing pious activities and penances. As per Arjuna's request, the lord displayed his four-armed form and, subsequently, the two-armed form. Arjuna's mind composure could be restored by seeing the lord in a human-like form. Even demigods cherish the opportunity to see the universal form. Only through undivided devotional service can one understand Lord Krishna. 

In the final verse, Lord Krishna assures liberation for the following: 

1. One who engages in pure devotional service
2. One who is detached from the results of fruitive activities
3. One who works for me for the Lord
4. One who makes the Lord as the goal of his life
5. One who is friendly with every living entity

Favorite Shlokas:

Shloka 12:

divi sūrya-sahasrasya bhaved yugapad utthitā

yadi bhāḥ sadṛiśhī sā syād bhāsas tasya mahātmanaḥ

Shloka 55:

mat-karma-kṛin mat-paramo mad-bhaktaḥ saṅga-varjitaḥ

nirvairaḥ sarva-bhūteṣhu yaḥ sa mām eti pāṇḍava

Genome-wide pattern discovery and the challenge of distinguishing biology from artefacts

The number of genomes that are becoming available is increasing at a very fast pace (exponentially?). One of the early analyses that bioinformaticians focussed on was the discovery of genome-wide patterns such as gene density and its correlates and genetic diversity and its determinants. Identifying such patterns and verifying the reliability of the observed pattern is one of the first steps. Once such patterns are known, trying to decipher the processes underlying these patterns would be an important next step.

Moving from Patterns to Processes would also involve the development of a strong theory that can make testable predictions. Once such a theory is available, it is possible to simulate scenarios and evaluate the theory. A well-grounded theory would be required to progress the scientific understanding of a field.

The study by Teekas et al. examined a specific type of genetic region known as low complexity regions (LCRs) in the DNA of tetrapods, a group that includes amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. LCRs are sequences in DNA that are made up of repetitive or simple sequences of nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA). These regions are interesting because they can change rapidly and might help organisms adapt to their environments.

The Role of LCRs in Evolution and Adaptation

LCRs can be a source of new traits and functions in organisms. The length and composition of LCRs are influenced by two main factors: mutation and natural selection. Mutation can change the DNA sequence randomly, sometimes leading to longer or shorter LCRs. For instance, mutations such as replication slippage (where the DNA copying process makes mistakes) can cause variations in LCR length. High levels of guanine (G) and cytosine (C) nucleotides, known as high %GC content, also contribute to these changes.

On the other hand, natural selection can favour certain variations that are beneficial for survival and reproduction. The interplay between these mutations and selection pressures determines the specific characteristics of LCRs in different organisms.

Key Findings

1. Location and Function of Positively Selected Sites (PSS):
• Positively selected sites (PSS) are parts of genes that have undergone selection because they provide some advantage.
• PSS and LCRs are often found at the ends of genes in tetrapods.
• PSS at the center of genes tend to be involved in defense mechanisms, such as the immune response, while PSS at the ends of genes are associated with more general functions.
2. Characteristics of LCR-Containing Genes:
• Genes with LCRs in tetrapods tend to have a higher %GC content.
• These genes show a lower ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous substitutions (ω or dN/dS), indicating strong purifying selection. Purifying selection removes harmful mutations, ensuring the gene remains functional.
• Despite the rapid functional diversity that LCRs can provide, they are subject to intense purifying selection to maintain beneficial traits.
3. Purity and Position of LCRs:
• LCRs are commonly found in genes but are less pure, meaning they have more variation.
• As the purity of LCRs increases (i.e., they become more uniform), they tend to be located in specific parts of the gene, suggesting their evolutionary role depends on their composition.

Supporting the Robustness of the Patterns

The robustness of these patterns was supported through several methods:

1. Consistency Across Data Sets:
• The researchers observed these patterns across multiple tetrapod species, ensuring that the findings were not limited to a single group or dataset.
2. Statistical Analysis:
• They used statistical methods to test whether the patterns were significant and not due to random chance. This included analyzing the %GC content and ω ratios to confirm their observations.
3. Replication and Validation:
• The findings were validated by comparing different gene regions and across different species to ensure that the patterns were consistent and reproducible.

Understanding Underlying Processes

By identifying these patterns, the researchers gained insights into the underlying biological processes:

1. Mutation and Selection Dynamics:
• The study highlighted how mutations create variability in LCRs and how natural selection shapes these variations to enhance adaptability and function.
2. Functional Roles of Gene Regions:
• The position-specific roles of PSS within genes revealed how different parts of a gene can evolve to serve distinct functions, such as defence mechanisms or general cellular processes.
3. Evolutionary Strategies:
• The variation in %GC content and ω ratios between LCR-containing and non-LCR-containing genes illustrated different evolutionary strategies. LCRs contribute to rapid adaptation while being tightly controlled by purifying selection to prevent harmful mutations.

Building a Theoretical Framework

With the increasing availability of genomes, bioinformaticians can now analyze large datasets to discover genome-wide patterns, such as gene density and genetic diversity. Identifying and verifying the reliability of these patterns is a crucial first step. Once reliable patterns are known, the next step is understanding the underlying processes.

In this study, the researchers' findings contribute to building a theoretical framework for understanding genetic diversity and adaptation:

1. Model Development:
• The identified patterns can be used to develop models that explain how LCRs evolve and contribute to functional diversity in genes. These models can help predict how genes adapt to environmental pressures.
2. Integration of Mechanisms:
• By integrating the roles of mutation and selection, the framework can explain how genetic diversity is generated and maintained in different species.
3. Predictive and Explanatory Power:
• A robust theoretical framework can predict new evolutionary trends and explain observed patterns in genetic data. For instance, it can help predict which genes might evolve rapidly in response to new environmental challenges.
4. Guiding Future Research:
• The framework can guide future research by highlighting key areas for investigation, such as the specific mechanisms by which LCRs influence gene function and adaptation.

Moving from patterns to processes involves developing a strong theory to make testable predictions. Once such a theory is available, scientists can simulate scenarios and evaluate the theory's validity. A well-grounded theory is essential for advancing the scientific understanding of a field, as it provides a structured way to interpret data and predict future observations.

Conclusion

This study sheds light on the complex dynamics of low-complexity regions in the DNA of tetrapods. By revealing how these regions are influenced by mutation and selection and how they contribute to functional diversity and adaptation, the researchers have laid the groundwork for a theoretical framework to enhance our understanding of genetic evolution. The robustness of the findings, supported by rigorous statistical analysis and validation across multiple species, ensures that the patterns identified are reliable and meaningful. This framework will be invaluable for future studies exploring genetic diversity and the evolutionary processes that shape life on Earth.

* This blogpost is generated using chatGPT 

We talked about how Open Science is changing the way science is done and the important role of the Royal Society in facilitating this. The terms Open and Science have come together to form a new coalition championed by those disillusioned by the academic research culture. For instance, Rachael Ainsworth discusses how the "Research Culture is Broken, and Open Science can Fix It".

Rachael Ainsworth is not the Royal Society. So it's not just established, well-known societies; even an individual with passion and dedication can advocate for open science. However, the world is the way it is, and it takes power, prestige, prominence in science and the credibility of a society to be heard. Michael Nielsen is somewhere in between the Royal Society and Rachael Ainsworth and describes himself as somebody who "helped pioneer...the modern open science movement". He uses interesting anecdotes involving important people to highlight the challenges of doing Open Science.

We are also moving from a text-dominated communication medium to a video-dominated medium. Given the buzz currently surrounding Open Science, it seems reasonable that the study by Teekas and group be published in Open Biology: A fast, open-access Royal Society journal publishing high-impact biology at the molecular and cellular level. Of course, the manuscript spent over a year on bioRxiv and had seen multiple journals before making its way to the pre-print server in July 2023. Here is a brief timeline:

XXXX-X-22-00131 on Wed, Sep 28, 2022, 3:04 PM

XXXX-X-22-00131R1 on Thu, May 4, 2023, 2:39 PM

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XXXX-X-22-00131R4 on Wed, Nov 22, 2023, 12:26 PM

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