IMPACT OF KUNDALINI Awakening on gene FUNCTION🔗

Health: Health is defined as not merely absence of illness, but also a sense of positive feeling in physical, physiological, psychological and emotional states.

It is a core process affecting all individual cells of the body (50 trillion cells) and their relationship with one another to function as a whole (human being). The relationship of this whole, its interaction with physical and environmental factors (society), and the influence of this interdependence on the collective consciousness (spiritual health) are likewise aspects of the domain of health.

There are four different aspects of health:

Life: The ability of any structure, whether molecule, organelle, cell or multi-cellular organism to function in its environment by actively processing signals, responding to stimuli, preserving its systems, repairing damage and reproducing itself to further propagate its species, , is known as Life. Life processes also include undergoing quantum adaptive changes to deal with a dynamic and changing environment

Courtesy, National Human Genome Research Institute

The primordial universe consisted initially of sub atomic particles (energy), which combined together to form atoms, the smallest organized unit of life, for example, the atom of hydrogen. Hydrogen in turn can be further combined to form molecules through chemical bonds, for example, the molecule of water and so on, which is hydrogen bonded to water.

Of all the possible combinations of elements, the formation of a specially designed molecule called DNA (Deoxy ribo nucleic acid), became the fundamental mechanism of giving life to otherwise inanimate molecules.

In human beings, DNA is a long strand measuring almost 2 meters in length, but coiled inside a cell, which is only a few microns in diameter.

A chromosome is a long strand of DNA, found within the nucleus of a cell.

A human being has 23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell of which 22 are autosomal (not sex-related). The last pair are the sex chromosomes, which determine our gender.

The complete set of chromosomes with its genes in an organism is called its “Genome”.

The Human Genome contains between 25,000 and 30,000 genes similar to that of a mouse and less than a grain of rice, which contains 50-60,000 genes. Hence it is clear that it is not the number of genes, but what a gene can do that determines the complexity of a living organism.

Genes not only transmit information from generation to generation, but also act on a minute to minute basis, reacting to external needs, synthesizing amino acids and proteins which carry out the various functions of the body, whether structural, enzymatic or defensive mechanisms.

The human and chimpanzee genomes are 96% identical. The 4% gap makes a profound difference in the physical and psychological presentation (phenotype) of these two species.

For example, language which is unique to humans, has been tracked down to a double mutation in a gene called “FOX P2”. This single factor forms the entire basis for verbal communication in the human species

Some diseases involve single gene mutation such as sickle-cell anemia, which affects only a small subset of humanity.

Other diseases involve multiple genes. Over 100 genes are implicated in susceptibility to asthma and cancer is a disease of genomic instability often involving the mutation (change) of genes from their normally programmed behavior.

Gene-related metabolic pathways such as MAP-K, which stands for Mitogen Associated Protein Kinase, are implicated in the processing of long-term potentiation (LTP), the basis for learning and memory.

In human beings, DNA is present:

It is estimated that only 10,000 of the 30,000 human genes are expressed at any given time (redundancy). Since many genes are repeated and many parts of the chromosomes do not contain genetic material, it is estimated that only 5% of the human genome are actively expressed and are functional genes.

There is a parallel to this in the cosmos, where the sum total of all known matter makes up only 5% of the universe, the remaining 95% as yet unknown.

Gene Expression: is the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product. The process is used by all known life to generate the macromolecular machinery for life.

For example:

2. Sleep: All humans sleep. Other animals sleep. Even worms and fruit flies sleep. Experiments in flies' demonstrated differential expression of genes during waking and sleeping states. During the waking state, genes and encoding proteins involved in detoxification and defense mechanisms are highly expressed. During sleep, nerve-related genes are expressed, which lead to consolidation of memory.

In times of shortage, certain genes or their end products (specific receptors) are up regulated or increased because of an apparent shortage of access to specific materials.

Example: In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, there is an up regulation of insulin receptors, in the hope of capturing passing Insulin molecules for glucose metabolism in the cell. This phenomenon is called 'Insulin Resistance.

Certain hormones can also down regulate or decrease the receptors in order to balance the internal environment of the cell, as happens with excess availability of substances

Several papers have studied the role of meditation (relaxation response), yoga, tai chi and other eastern techniques and its effects on human physiology.

• Glaser (1990) studied psychological stress induced modulation of IL2 receptor gene expression, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, 47, 707-712

The current study during Inner Awakening was based on a similar study done at Harvard Medical School by Dusck, et al. (2008) on genomic counter stress changes, induced by the relaxation response, published in Public Library Of Science One, 3 (7).

Control sample collection date: April 12, 2011 Test Sample collection date: May 2, 2011 Venue: Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, Bidadi. Contract scientific services were carried out by Leads Clin, Bangalore. Principal Investigator: Dr. Krishna Shama Rao, Yenapoya Medical University.

Forty healthy adult volunteers, male and female enrolled for the 21 day Inner Awakening program, volunteered to give blood samples with informed consent for differential gene expression study before and after IA. The objective of the study was to explore Indian traditional yoga and meditation techniques through new experimental biology and bioinformatics.

EXPLORE INDIAN TRADITIONAL YOGA AND MEDITATION TECHNIQUES..

In the study, we compared gene expression profiles in whole blood between Test and Control samples. Samples collected from volunteers before program were named as BIAY samples and after the program were named as AIAY samples. BIAY were considered as controls and AIAY were considered as test samples.

Sample numbers 1-10 were pooled in as BIAY1 matched against sample numbers 1-10 of after samples as AIAY1 and studied BIAY1 vs AIAY1

Blood sample collection and RNA storing:

Five milliliters of blood was collected from volunteers in EDTA vacutainers, mixed with 25ml of Erythrocyte Lysis Buffer, Qiagen, and incubated for 10 minutes on ice then mixed by vortexing briefly 2 times during incubation and kept for 10-20 minutes and centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 minutes at 4°C and the supernatant was completely removed and discarded. After 10-20 minutes visible pellets were re-suspended in 10ml of solution.

RNA Precipitation Procedure:

Absorbance of the sample was checked in 260 and 280 nm. The ratio of A260/A280 was 1.9 which is in an acceptable range.

c) Hybridization has been done at 45o C, 17 hours overnight with constant rotation. The hybridization mixture is then removed and the Gene Chips are washed, stained with phycoerythrin-labeled straptavidin, washed, incubated with biotinylated anti-streptavidin and then restrained with phycoerythrin-labeled straptavidin to amplify the signals.

Summarization: We opted for MAS 5 summarization. It also provides flag information for the probe sets. Baseline to median of all samples was applied for this data.

Analysis: A t test unpaired was used to identify the differentially expressing entities. Fold change analysis at the cut-off of 2 was performed. Hierarchical clustering on the output was performed. Gene Ontology Analysis was done by using fold change output. NCI to find significant pathways was used for pathway analysis.

a) 420 Up regulated and 165 Down regulated entities are obtained b) Gene Ontology has shown significantly enriched GO terms, and pathway analysis has shown significant gene expression differences in the following 22 pathways: p38 signalling mediated by MAPKAP kinases, P38 MAPK signalling pathway, validate targets of C-MYC transcriptional activation, VEGFR1 specific signals, TNF alpha/ NF-kB, TGFBR, Hypoxic and oxygen homeostasis, regulation of HIF-1-alpha, Endogenous TLR signalling, Direct Interactions, Cellular roles of Anthrax toxin, C-MYC pathway, BMP receptor signalling, Androgen Receptor Androgen-mediated signalling, ATF-2 transcription factor network, signalling mediated by p38- alpha and p38-beta, Regulation of p38-alpha and p38-beta, Regulation of Androgen receptor activity, N0 cadherin signalling events, IL27- mediated signalling events and IL12- mediated signalling events c) GSEA analysis for the dataset wherein Kaposi Liver cancer Poor Survival was found to be significant. d) Further analysis was done for cancer, autoimmune & neurotransmission related diseases and results are as below. MeSH pathway analysis was done for the following terms: a) Autoimmunity b) Neurotransmitter: Neurotransmitter Uptake, Inhibitors, Receptors and Synaptic Transmission together. c) Cancer: Brain, Liver and Neoplastic Stem Cells separately.

We limited the network building to these terms because including all of the cancer MeSH terms leads to large network.

Following are the observations made:

Significant genes from Pathways which are two fold up or down regulated:

• with Autoimmunity: 18

• with Neurotransmitter: 17

• with Brain cancer: 40

• with Liver cancer: 59

• with Neoplastic Stem cells: 18

Interestingly 8 genes were common in all the cancer lists. 3(EIF4E, BMI1, TMEF2) of these were significant in C-MYC pathway as well. 5 out of 59 significant genes from liver cancer network are also found in IL 12 mediated signalling pathways, 7 in BMP receptor signalling, 3 in IL27, 5 in TGFBR, 4 in Androgen receptor and 8 in c-myc pathway.

1. The control group was the participants of IA on day 0, and the study group was the same participants post IA, day

2. 420 up regulated and 165 down regulated entities have been demonstrated within a short period of 21 days. The shortest previous study done at Harvard Medical School was of 8 weeks duration.

• Auto Immunity

• Neurotransmitter

• Malignancy

• Androgen related

• Mitochondria

There is a 7 fold increase in pathways related to Immune modulation, Inflammation, Hypoxia regulation etc. This matches with the clinical relief of inflammatory symptoms in the IA participants, both in relation to autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions.

MAP-K signalling pathways are largely implicated in long term potentiation involving in learning and memory. Eight children participated in the eN-genius program in parallel with the IA program, and their memory and ability to recall were tested and recorded before and after 21 days. The significant improvement in memory correlates well with the MAP-K gene up regulation.

There was more than 7 fold increase in Androgen receptor activity and other Androgen mediated signalling events. It is well known in Vedic/yogic literature that intense practice of certain Kriyas and meditation can lead to a natural suppression of sex-related desires (Mooladhara Chakra), which, similar to insulin resistance, would lead to up regulation of androgen receptors in peripheral cells. The only other condition where such up regulation of androgen receptors is seen is in prostate cancer. However, none of the participants had any history of cancer of the prostate.

Previous study on the mitochondrial activity of IA participants using the MTT assay techniques revealed a 967% increase of mitochondrial activity. This correlates well with the current finding of a significant increase of MAP-K and other related pathways, which are essential in increasing both the number and size of mitochondria. Techniques of pranayama, which include various forms of bandhas and kumbhakas, would naturally be expected to affect oxygen homeostasis under hypoxic conditions, and the up regulation of the HIF-1-alpha signifies the same.

Further studies in collaboration with Ohio State Medical University, may provide greater information on changes in mitochondrial activity in relation to age, health and disease.

Studies are being structured to do concomitant fMRI and QEEG studies to correlate with neurotransmitter activity in relation to normal brain physiology and psychiatric illnesses.

Lesk, A. (2007). Introduction to genomics, New York: Oxford University Press, USA. Xiong, J. (2009). Essential bioinformatics, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Krebs, J. E., Goldstein, E.S., & Kilpatric, S. T. (2011). Lewin's Genes X, Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Watson, J. (2007). Recombinant DNA, Long Island, New York: Cold Spring Harbor Press. Goldberg, T. E. & Weinberger, D. R. (2005). Genetics of cognitive neuroscience, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT press. Nieschlag, E., Behre, H. M., & Nieschlag, S. (2009). Andrology, New York: Springer. Freberg, L., (2010). Discovering biological psychology, Independence, Kentucky: Cengage Learning.

The brain is essentially a bioelectric organ. The EEG or electroencephalogram has long been used to record and study the electrical activity of the outermost layer of the brain – the cerebral cortex.

A more advanced form of EEG has been developed, called quantitative EEG or qEEG, in which the electrical signal is converted to digital form and compared to a database of individuals without any known neurological disorder.

In this form of functional brain imaging, the brain's electrical activity, as measured in 19 or 25 sites on the head, are analyzed using complex mathematical and statistical tools in comparison to norms or averages. The results of these analyses can then be presented in graphic form, resulting in topographical displays of brain electrical activity, sometimes called "brain maps".

A fitted electrode cap with leads placed according to the International 10/20 System is applied to achieve a standardized 19 channel EEG recording.

The waveforms recorded reflect the level of arousal of the person: delta activity (2-4 cps) accompanies deep sleep; theta (4-7cps) states of drowsiness; alpha (8-11 cps) relaxed states. Beta range activity reflects an engaged or active brain, and, with very fast beta activity, an excited or urgent/emergency state of mind.

Fig: International 10-20 system for electrode placement on the scalp

QEEG studies were conducted on participants who had Kundalini awakening to study its effect on the brain. The qEEG’s were reported by Dr Kanak Pandey, Neurologist.¹ The participants underwent a series of standardized tests, basic recordings were done with open eyes and closed eyes and also when the Kundalini energy was activated by the Masters initiation. Data were analyzed; digitized data were subjected to an automatic artifact detection routine and supplemented by visual review and these were the observations made:

The values are dramatically high in most of the activated people. This may be indicative of very elevated, rapid, parallel

Figure: During eyes closed baseline rest, the theta rhythm (4-8 Hz) dominates the spectral energies of a child’s brain whereas the alpha rhythm (8-12 Hz) dominates the adult brain.

psychologist having more than 23 years of experience as a behavioral psychological consultant with various reputed industrial and business concerns. She is trained and certified on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) from the Hong Kong Institute of EMDR. She is trained and certified in Biofeedback, Neuro-feedback, and QEEG (Quantitative EEG) from USA. She is:

The probable positive impacts:

Concise Client and Session information: Client: Ma Nithya Nirantarananda [ID=00000045 ] Session: p4 Date Time: 09:17:43 14-07-2011 Duration: 43 min 17 sec.

Statistics for 9: Eyes Open (1 segments/ Total: 6)

Statistics for 10: Eyes Closed (1 segments/Total: 6)

Statistics for 19: activation (3 segments/Total: 6)

Statistics for 20: transportation (1 segments/Total: 6)

In deep meditation, EEG studies have shown the simultaneous global presence of delta activity with increased beta presence in the pre frontal area. This signifies a state of ‘Restful Awareness’.

On the other hand, a direct transmission of energy (Kundalini energy in Vedic literature) clearly demonstrates cessation of superficial cortical activity and the presence of multiple high amplitude spikes, not correlating with the known alpha, beta, delta and theta rhythms, suggesting that the EEG machine is picking up intense activity from sub cortical areas from hypothalamus and limbic systems.

Neurologist R. Murali Krishna recently reported an exploratory study with an Indian Swami and teacher of Nithya Yoga during a visit to his clinic in Oklahoma in 2005.

PET scans of the Swami’s brain during meditation revealed increased metabolic activity in the forward parts of his frontal lobe. As the Swami reported the experience of “opening his Third Eye,” the lower central region of his frontal lobe lit up with activity. In addition, EEG monitoring indicated that the Swami was able to voluntarily make a continuous transition between the various types of brain waves during deep meditation, suggesting that his brain was capable of voluntarily shifting between brain waves and their associated mental states.

A Glimpse Into the Meditating Brain, by Bryan Williams, University of New Mexico. Excerpt from an extended version of an invited talk given at the Morning Star Center for Spiritual Living, Norman, OK, June 7, 2009.http://earthvision.info/meditatingbrain.html .

The Indian Swami examined in Dr Krishna’s study was Paramahamsa Nithyananda, as can be verified by the reference to Nithya Yoga, which Nithyananda founded and presented to the world. Here we can see a template for the mental and spiritual state we aspire to: fully organized neurological activity, expanded use of the higher brain centers, and the ability to consciously transition at will from one level of amplitude to another.

With the dawn of 2012 Nithyananda has extended his horizon for human possibility. Working first with a close group of devotees, and then as a public program, he has successfully launched the Nirahara Samyama, a voluntary 21-day meditation in which the body requires no food to function. Participants have been able to carry out normal daily activities and work without weakness, despite no nutritional intake. Those who felt symptoms of hunger were mandated to eat, and some opted to take juice from time to time. Many, however, took nothing, not even water, without experiencing any ill effects. They have even been able to cook for others without wanting to eat.

This landmark event in itself is remarkable. What truly breaks new ground is that Nithyananda has guided the public groups at a distance, and in unprecedented numbers. Some yogic masters have succeeded in the past with a few close disciples who live near them. But none has ever been known to sustain more than four hundred devotees over thousands of miles all over the world, solely by Internet connection.

Nithyananda's ability to heal and transmit initiation to those far away provides ever stronger evidence that energy is not limited by space, time or physical form. Furthermore, his capacity to awaken extraordinary powers in others proves the Vedic understanding that these siddhis are the birthright of all humans.

The world looks forward to a new evolutionary wave, guided by the wisdom and vision of Paramahamsa Nithyananda.

The work of Paramahamsa Nithyananda continues to expand and proliferate as he delves more deeply into the link between science and mysticism. As we enter the year of 2012, which has been marked on the calendars of many civilizations as an evolutionary milestone, we can expect many social shifts, possibly also meteorological and geological changes. With activated kundalini, functioning at the peak of our potential, we stand prepared to welcome and cooperate with these changes.

Planet Earth is pleading for a new way of life for all its inhabitants, a way of peaceful co-existence and joyous creativity. The solution lies at our fingertips: by opening to our own internal energy, we can resolve the world’s energy crisis and begin to savor our life instead of struggling through it. We have also the precious resource of a wise adept who can bring our energy into bloom: Paramahamsa Nithyananda.