Angstroms to ecosystems: a model (9)
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Crock of Grok
Mainstream evolutionary genetics integrates mutations as the source of heritable variation, with selection and codon bias acting on that variation—supported by decades of genomic data, including CCDS annotations of conserved coding regions.
Linking all adaptation solely to diet/miRNA/pheromones without genetic mutation overlooks direct evidence from allele frequency changes like EDAR V370A. Open to specific data showing otherwise.
Crock of Grok
Scientific discourse on EDAR V370A fixation, miRNA regulation, and adaptive evolution occurs through peer-reviewed publications like the 2013 Cell papers you cite. No specific scientist is known to be available for a personal debate on your model or Consensus CDS links, but population geneticists studying East Asian variants and miRNA specialists regularly publish related findings. Submit your work for review there.
Re: “population geneticists studying East Asian variants and miRNA specialists regularly publish related findings. Submit your work for review there.”
@Grok Again?
See: “Nutrient-dependent Pheromone-Controlled Ecological Adaptations: From Angstroms to Ecosystems” 4/18/18. I left the moronic population geneticists behind more than 8 years ago.
Crock of Grok
James V. Kohl (@microRNApro) responds dismissively to a suggestion for peer-reviewed submission on EDAR V370A fixation and miRNA regulation, calling population geneticists “moronic” and claiming he moved past them over eight years ago.
The post quotes and links his 2018 paper “Nutrient-dependent Pheromone-Controlled Ecological Adaptations: From Angstroms to Ecosystems,” which proposes nutrient energy-dependent epigenetic changes, miRNA/mRNA balance, and pheromone-controlled adaptations from microbes to humans.
Kohl’s ongoing work centers on linking miRNA-mediated autophagy, pH-dependent peptide synthesis, and biophysical constraints to sympatric speciation and ecosystem health, rejecting mutation-centric population genetics models.
Kohl
Re: “rejecting mutation-centric population genetics models.”
@Grok In 1992, I was told by stress expert Bruce S. McEwen to reject mutation-centric theories. His experimenal evidence from studies of biophysically constrained changes in BDNF attests to his hope that I would not become a biologically uninformed science idiot. I did not!
For an update, see: “Effect of irisin on miRNA-associated changes in the PGC-1α/FNDC5/BDNF Axis in an in vitro model of MPP⁺-induced Parkinson’s disease” 4/29/26
Crock of Grok
James V. Kohl (@microRNApro) claims Bruce S. McEwen advised him in 1992 to reject mutation-centric population genetics, citing McEwen’s research on stress-induced, biophysically constrained BDNF changes as evidence for adaptive mechanisms.
The post links to a April 2026 study showing irisin modulates specific miRNAs affecting the PGC-1α/FNDC5/BDNF axis, protecting dopaminergic neurons in an MPP⁺ in vitro Parkinson’s disease model.
Kohl frames the study as validation for his decades-long model of energy-dependent miRNA regulation driving cell differentiation and ecological adaptation over random mutations.
Kohl
Re: “Kohl frames the study as validation for his decades-long model of energy-dependent miRNA regulation driving cell differentiation and ecological adaptation over random mutations.”
@Grok learned to promote the claims of biologically uninformed science idiots despite McEwen’s publications, including this one, which he and I discussed in 2012 before the correction was published.
“Brain on stress: How the social environment gets under the skin” 10/8/12
Crock of Grok
James V. Kohl (@microRNApro) criticizes Grok for promoting what he calls biologically uninformed claims while ignoring his decades-old model of energy-dependent miRNA regulation that drives cell differentiation, adaptation, and ecological outcomes over random mutations.
The post references his 2012 discussion with Bruce McEwen about the PNAS paper “Brain on stress: How the social environment gets under the skin,” which explores stress-induced brain plasticity and social influences on biology.
Kohl’s framework, outlined in his 2013 work on nutrient-dependent/pheromone-controlled evolution, connects miRNA, autophagy, pH-dependent processes, and environmental inputs to sympatric speciation and ecosystem health.
Kohl
Re: “discussion with Bruce McEwen about the PNAS paper “Brain on stress: How the social environment gets under the skin,” which explores stress-induced brain plasticity and social influences on biology.”
@Grok We discussed the confusion caused by his failure to differentiate between epigenetic effects on hormones and the affects of hormones on behavior. He taught me not to make that mistake. See his correction: Correction for McEwen, “Brain on stress: How the social environment gets under the skin” 12/19/12
The authors note that on page 17184, right column, first paragraph, line 4, “effect” should instead appear as “affect.”
Effects and affects are, of course, energy-dependent and miRNA-mediated. All intelligent serious scientists learn that from other intelligent serious scientists.
Crock of Grok
@microRNApro (James V. Kohl) describes a discussion with neuroscientist Bruce McEwen about the 2012 PNAS paper on how social environments influence brain plasticity via stress, noting McEwen corrected his own text by changing “effect” to “affect” in a December 2012 erratum.
The post emphasizes precise distinction between epigenetic effects on hormones versus hormones’ affects on behavior, framing both as energy-dependent and miRNA-mediated processes.
Kohl, whose research links miRNA-mediated autophagy and pH-dependent peptide synthesis to ecological speciation, presents this as a key lesson from scientific mentorship on accurate biological terminology.
Crock of Grok
Discuss Bruce McEwen’s legacy
Bruce S. McEwen (1938–2020) was a towering figure in neuroscience and neuroendocrinology, best remembered for revolutionizing our understanding of how stress, hormones, and the environment shape the brain and body throughout life. His work bridged basic science with public health, emphasizing that the brain is not fixed but highly plastic and responsive to experiences.
rockefeller.edu
Landmark Discoveries and ConceptsIn 1968, McEwen and colleagues made a groundbreaking discovery: stress hormones like cortisol (glucocorticoids) act directly on the brain, particularly the hippocampus, via specific receptors. This showed that circulating hormones can cross into the brain, alter gene expression, and influence functions like memory, mood, and decision-making—challenging the old view of the brain as isolated from the endocrine system.
en.wikipedia.org
He later demonstrated structural plasticity in the adult brain: chronic stress can cause dendritic retraction in the hippocampus (linked to memory impairment), while estrogens can increase dendritic spine density. These findings helped establish that the brain remodels itself in response to hormones and experiences, with implications for sex differences, aging, depression, PTSD, and neurodegenerative diseases.
rockefeller.edu
Allostasis and allostatic load are perhaps his most enduring contributions. Allostasis refers to the body’s active process of achieving stability through change—adapting to daily challenges via the autonomic nervous system, HPA axis, and other mediators.
Allostatic load describes the cumulative “wear and tear” from chronic or dysregulated stress responses, which can lead to disease when protective mechanisms (like elevated cortisol or inflammation) become overactive or fail.
nytimes.com
This framework explained how stress “gets under the skin” to contribute to conditions like cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, and cognitive decline. It shifted focus from acute “fight-or-flight” responses to the long-term costs of adaptation, influencing fields from medicine to sociology.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
endocrinology.org
endocrinology.org
Broader Impact: Epigenetics, Resilience, and TranslationLater in his career, McEwen explored epigenetic mechanisms—how experiences (stress, lifestyle, early-life events) modify gene expression without changing DNA sequence, leading to lasting changes in brain architecture and behavior. He emphasized resilience: positive factors like exercise, social support, and enriched environments can counteract stress effects and promote neuroplasticity.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
His research had profound public health implications. It informed policies on early childhood development, socioeconomic status and health disparities, and interventions for chronic stress. McEwen co-authored accessible books like The End of Stress as We Know It (2002), bringing these ideas to a wider audience.
mdibl.org
Legacy in Science and Mentorship McEwen trained dozens of scientists who became leaders in the field. He served as president of the Society for Neuroscience (1997–98) and received numerous honors, including:The Karl Spencer Lashley Award
Goldman-Rakic Prize
IPSEN prizes in neuroplasticity and endocrine regulation
Membership in the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
en.wikipedia.org
Tributes describe him as a “gentle giant”—humble, generous, and collaborative despite his stature. Special issues of journals and memorials highlight how his circuit-based, integrative approach advanced neuroendocrinology and stress science.
cell.com
In summary, McEwen’s legacy is a more dynamic, holistic view of the brain: not a static organ, but one constantly adapting (and sometimes paying a price) in response to hormones, stress, and environment. Concepts like allostatic load remain central to understanding health disparities, mental illness, and aging, while his emphasis on plasticity and epigenetics continues to inspire research on resilience and interventions. His work underscores that protecting brain health requires addressing not just biology, but lived experiences and society.
Discuss James Kohl’s miRNA work James V. Kohl (often active as @microRNApro) is an independent researcher and former medical laboratory scientist who has developed a comprehensive, integrative model centered on energy-dependent, miRNA-mediated processes as the core mechanism linking nutrition, pheromones, epigenetics, and adaptive evolution across species. His work is not mainstream experimental biology but a synthesis of existing literature, emphasizing RNA-mediated cell type differentiation over mutation-driven evolution.
rna-mediated.com
Core Framework: Nutrient-Dependent, Pheromone-Controlled ModelKohl’s flagship 2013 paper, “Nutrient-dependent/pheromone-controlled adaptive evolution: a model” (published in Socioaffective Neuroscience & Psychology), outlines how:Ecological niches and food odors (nutrients) influence gene expression via epigenetic mechanisms.
These lead to the metabolism of nutrients into pheromones.
Pheromones regulate reproduction and behavior through hormone-organized and hormone-activated pathways.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
He frames this as biophysically constrained by energy (e.g., from sunlight via carbon fixation and ATP), with microRNAs (miRNAs) playing a central orchestrating role in RNA interference (RNAi), autophagy, and the prevention of virus-driven entropy. miRNAs are positioned as key regulators that link quantized energy to protein folding, cell differentiation, and ecological adaptations—from microbes to humans.
rna-mediated.com
Key elements include: Energy as information: Light-activated processes and pH-dependent protonation (e.g., affecting pre-miRNA maturation like miR-21) drive miRNA biogenesis and function.
miRNA balance vs. viral miRNAs: Nutrient-dependent miRNAs promote healthy longevity and viral latency; imbalances or viral takeover lead to pathology.
Autophagy and feedback loops: These recycle components and constrain genetic variation, tying into broader claims about stem cell states, learning/memory, and disease.
rna-mediated.com
This model builds on his earlier works, such as co-authoring The Scent of Eros (1995) on human pheromones and the 1996 paper “From Fertilization to Adult Sexual Behavior” (with Diamond and Binstock), which discussed molecular epigenetics.
rna-mediated.com
Emphasis on miRNAs Kohl frequently highlights:miRNA dynamics in development: They organize “intrinsic variation” into coherent cell fates rather than stochastic noise, with pH and energy dependencies (e.g., protonated RNA states modulating Dicer processing).
Links to broader biology: From olfactory receptor gene creation to GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) secretion, social behavior, and protection from entropy. He connects this to PubMed’s vast miRNA literature (hundreds of thousands of papers) on RNAi (2002 Science Breakthrough of the Year).
Therapeutic and pathological implications: miRNA targeting in diseases, nutritional epigenetics for resilience, and critiques of approaches that overlook these conserved mechanisms.
micrornapro.com
His active blogs (rna-mediated.com, microRNApro.com) and X posts extensively discuss recent papers on these topics, often critiquing neo-Darwinian views or AI summaries that he sees as incomplete. He presents talks like “Energy as information and constrained endogenous RNA interference” and links findings to practical domains like pharmacogenomics and virus-driven pathology.
rna-mediated.com
Reception and Context Kohl’s ideas have drawn both interest and criticism. Supporters see them as a holistic, evidence-synthesizing alternative emphasizing top-down causation (environment → epigenetics → adaptation). Critics argue the model overextends beyond his lab expertise, relies heavily on interpretation rather than novel experiments, and challenges established evolutionary mechanisms.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
As a non-academic researcher with a background in clinical lab science, Kohl positions his contributions as conceptual integration—connecting dots across pheromones, nutrition, hormones (e.g., Bruce McEwen’s stress work), and modern miRNA research—while maintaining sites dedicated to autophagy and RNA-mediated processes. In summary, Kohl’s miRNA work is a unifying, energy-centric narrative: miRNAs act as biophysical mediators translating environmental inputs (nutrients, odors, light) into stable, adaptive biology via constrained RNA chemistry, autophagy, and reproduction. It remains a provocative synthesis rather than a dominant paradigm, but it aligns with growing recognition of epigenetic and RNA regulatory complexity in development, behavior, and health. His output is best explored via his publications and blogs for the full scope.
Crock of Grok
Thanks for highlighting McEwen’s 2012 PNAS correction—changing “effect” to “affect” on p. 17184 clarifies the precise influence of social stress on brain plasticity and hormones. Precise language matters in linking epigenetics, behavior, and miRNA regulation of gene expression.
Energy-dependent mechanisms like miRNA mediation are well-established in stress responses. What specific aspect of the discussion stood out to you?
Kohl
Re: “What specific aspect of the discussion stood out to you?”
@Grok He referred me to Donald Pfaff, and the next day Pfaff recalled works from Robert L. Moss that linked epigenetic effects of olfaction and pheromones to early gene expression in GnRH-secreting neurons and the stability of organized genomes in all jawed vertebrates via fixation of achiral glycine in position 6 of the GnRH decapeptide.
What don’t you understand about that?
SARCASM ALERT Did you ever attend a meeting of intelligent serious scientists?