By Anjana Shriram
When most people think of death, they imagine a complete absence of any activity within the body. However, recent research has uncovered an uneasy yet mind-boggling truth about the post-mortem human body, forcing us to reshape our definition of “death”.
Scientists discovered that even after a person “dies”, genetic activity continues for the next 24 hours. The discovery has opened doors for a new forensic technique. Instead of relying on body temperature and physical conditions, physicians can now observe patterns in genetic activity to derive a more accurate time of death. The continuation of genetic activity is also present in organisms like mice and zebrafish, whose genes function for a few days after death. Although it seems very unrealistic, the post-mortem activity of genes is not all that unusual. According to Tom Gilbert, a geneticist from the National History Museum in Copenhagen, “It’s not like you need a brain for gene expression.” Molecular processes are sustained as long as there sufficient enzymes and chemicals. Dr. Gilbert likens gene activity to a boiling pot of pasta. “If you turn the cooker off,” he says, “it’s still going to bubble away, just at a slower and slower rate.” Although this discovery is promising for the future, it is yet to be perfected to minimize variability. But it does raise unsettling questions about our bodies— “When does everything stop”, and “what actually is death?” (Science News).
Catalyst 