6 New Modern Day Religions

Intro:
    The recent massive religious changes in our society that have exceeded that of the renaissance has brought a new modern awakening. This list details genuine and unknown new religions. I also theorize the upcoming of some religions. This list excludes cults or prank like groups.

Religions of Scholarly Studies:

Flickr @ Shonk

     Recently we have seen the creation of religions based on major scholarly studies.
This could make out a separate religion for each major scientific studies.

    Gaia theory is a religious idea claiming the earth to be the sole god of humans. It harbors life and is itself an organism. This Gaia theory is based purely off of biology studies relating to stability systems.
 
    Sacred Geometry is a belief that certain mathematical equations are holy in the sense that they are used in nature and the nature of us. Some holy aspects are purely from fractal organisms on earth. Belief in god differs. Link

    Simulation Theory is a computer science stemmed belief that our reality is an advanced and complex computer simulation. The god of the universe is the script writer and thus can alter the coding and reality of the universe. Link

    Soon more religious beliefs will arise through each subject of scholarly study. Perhaps the higgs boson will attract a religion, but in its current state the higgs boson is purely science.

Jedi:
    Jediism or Jedi Realist religion is a derivative of Buddhism and samurai teachings. Meditation and conquering the mind(or the force) is one of the most important things to do.

Flickr @ Shothotspot.com

    This religion also uses aspects maintained from the starwars films and games though does not actively believe in telekinisis. It asserts that peace in the universe is essentially happiness.

     Happiness thus is not always something to strive for. Its a jedi's job to instill peace in the world in anyway possible.

    Two highly active groups of jedi exist. http://www.templeofthejediorder.org/ is a website where you can become a padwan and learn the ways of the force. This group has the highest count and is a registered church in Texas. Plans for a physical church are underway though funding is low.

http://instituteforjedirealiststudies.org is a website that was started in the early 2000s and includes a far more rigorous training platform.
 
     Worldwide, 547,000 individual people have claimed to be members of or followers of the jedi order since 2000. Some of these people are protesters or pranksters.

Atheism:
     Since 2000, the Atheist population has dramatically increased. Certainly atheism isn't a religion in its true sense, but many people act as if its their faith. The internet is certainly to blame for this transition. Education is everywhere on the internet, and now anybody can learn anything they want. This knowledge has led them to conclude that a religion isn't necessary for life to continue on.

Googlism:
     This religion being the newest is purely derived from atheists. They claim Google is the closest thing to god. They believe this because their "9 proofs". The first 3 proofs are the most convincing ideas. The first proof states that Google is the most knowledgeable system in the universe, which scientifically is a valid statement.

     The second proof states that Google is scientifically verifiably omnipresent, as Google is on everyones computers the googles data is sent through the air via wifi. The third proof states that it even answers prayers in the form of search inquires.

    This religions activity lately has fallen, but in 2011 it was highly active with thousands of viewers. The website is still popular as many viewers still visit the site. http://www.thechurchofgoogle.org/

Flickr @ marc falardeau

Human Love:
    The current direction that our society is in with 50% of marriages becoming divorced is leading to a new ideology that perhaps a woman will coin. Currently with the decrease in christian followers, the few aspects that are believed the most, deal with love. This religion probably will never be organized beyond marriages.

    Love in the future is going to be so obscure that a religion defining and expressing love between two individuals is going to be considered as a religion while to today's standards would seem unlikely.

Secular Humanism:
     This religion or ideology is the most likely to be dominant in the future with atheism being second. This is because it seems that a society needs a religion to be stable, and this is not a requirement rather a benefit.

     Secular Humanism is a religion that says humans can be good without a god. Compared to atheists, Humanists actively do good in the name of humans. This is not to say atheists don't do good, thats just not what they are based on.

     This is more of a religion than atheism simply because of the way they operate. This will become a more politically correct term for an atheist in the future. Read more

The Evolution Of Religion

Intro:
     The First Religion was created by modern humans. Religion as we know it started 42,000 years ago in Germany. Sexual Strength (Lion-Man) and Fertility (Venus) Gods were created because of flutes and plants in the area.

      The Religion benefited the society so they maintained the belief. Religions tend to evolve based on their ability to benefit the society. Please read my intro post: Religious Evolution and Adaptation Link.

Flickr @ edenpictures

     Societies in ancient human groups became quite civilized when modern humans genetically developed out of archaic humans around 200,000 years ago. Culture in these societies started to develop religious precursors. Religious precursors are activities that can form into religious rituals(and beliefs), but don't necessarily have to be religious(a god or supernatural being).

     These precursors are more society based and are not like biological precursors like Pareidolia and Vocal Acrobatics.

Religious Precursors

     Intentional burial of stone tools and gifts in a grave reduced the possibility of losing the method and technology of the item by forcing the creation of more of the specific item.

     Human burial is a religious precursor because it is common for a few other animals to bury their dead like elephants, and they do not exhibit religious behavior(possibly secular though).

     Research has found that recycling stone tools was common.[2] In addition, the recycled stone tools "were used repeatedly over a long period of time".[3]

     An example of this benefit has been found in Blombos Cave from 75,000 years ago. A technologically advanced stone tool called a Pressure Flaked stone, is better than other tools because its precisely sized tip and edge. In the evolution of stone tools, this method was the most "modern".

     This cave has been found to have no evidence of human burial besides a few scattered human teeth. After these people left the cave(we know after a long time due to artifacts) they lost the technology of pressure flaked tools. This technology wasn't discovered to exist until 50,000 years later.

    These activities tended to stick with the culture because a culture that did have these benefits was more likely to survive. Random activities that didn't benefit the culture would have less of a chance of being spread from generation to generation, and the activities would eventually die out.

Lone Valley- Origin of all religion
     45,000-42,000 years ago a group of genetically modern humans roamed into a region of south Germany called the lone valley(or swabian alb). These humans were anatomically able to speak like humans today. For around 50,000 years (atleast) before this, neanderthals dominated this area only. This area potentially became a ground for interaction between the two species.

     The Lone Valley is a forested area full of complex house looking caves often less than a mile apart from each other and all located just above a grassy stream. These caves all had a protruding top that made it highly visible.

A 3 mile stretch of caves in the lone valley region

     A recent Archaeological review of this small area suggests the cave group had higher human populations and stayed longer than other sites before it.[1] This means this area was like a prehistoric "settlement". Every cave has been found to have evidence of human habitation around this time. They would go to hunt and bring back the kill for generations.

     The population was high enough that not everyone had to go to hunt, and many suggest the women stayed behind due to their lower levels of testosterone. They would often roam nearby the caves and look for vegetation to eat.

Nootropic plants

Flickr @ blumenbiene

     A plant called Leucojum vernum (Spring Snowflake) is native to the Lone Valley area. It grows extremely dense in the spring; every step would crush a couple. Even today according to google maps, within a mile of Hohle Fels, a thick and luscious plot of them is thriving.

     This plant contains a chemical (in great quantities) called galantamine that boosts memory by many mechanisms. One of these pathways include the increase of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activation.

      This results in higher levels of dopamine.[4] A study on religious belief showed that when dopamine was given to non religious believing individuals they noticed faces that weren't there at the same rate as religious people.

     This effect could easily be boosted when administered to a human from 43,000 years ago. Today, Galantamine is used as a prescription drug for Alzheimers.

     A neanderthal tooth has been found to provide the first evidence of medicinal plant consumption around 40,000 years ago[6]The combination of increases in acetylcholine and dopamine makes this plant a perfect drug that could help humans make the connection between things and religion.

Primitive Flutes
     The most recent Radio-carbon dating in 2013 suggested ~42,000 years ago, humans living in this area carved flutes from bird bones and ivory. This is the earliest evidence of flutes in the world.

Earliest flute found in Geißenklösterle

     Ivory and antlers both have similar properties. Deer Velvet has been in chinese medicine for thousands of years and still is today. Studies have shown that oral consumption of antlers has extremely little or no effect, while injection or sublingual has significant effects. These effects include higher levels of energy and sexuality. The mechanism of this effect is likely from both its MAOI effects on brain concentrations, and a hormone present in all bones called osteocalcin which has been found to improve fertility.

Flickr @ Vasenka

     When humans made these flutes and played them, the act of blowing was forcing them to absorb the ingredients sublingually, as repeated playing increases saliva production. Eating bone marrow was common, but this never gave an effect like sublingual absorption through the mucus membrane, because stomach acids destroyed the active ingredients before absorption.

     In addition to chemically aphrodisiac properties, music from a flute seems to increase sexual desire and fertility in the brain by itself. My Post The biological Evolution of Music explains how this too helped spread this religion. Perhaps music co evolved with religion due to this idea, kinda like how humans release hunger hormones before eating,but more research would be needed to tell for sure.

Creation of Gods
     The fact that these humans had to play their flutes and not just eat them, gave them the idea that something else besides the antler was getting their sexual levels up and rewarding them with sexual pleasure; to them it was a god of sexual strength (Lion-Man God).

     Chemicals in the flutes aswell as the playing of music would also increase fertility. After they started playing music, more babies were produced. To them, singing a flute would please the god. This made them think something similar to the lion-man god was making them have more babies. This god of "fertility" was venus.

Lion Man Found at Hohlenstein-Stadel

     Lion-Man was a god of sexual strength. He symbolically was as strong as a lion. He gave people their sexual strength. He was also the oldest carving ever found at ~42,000 years ago. Every carving of him was made out of ivory. Evidence of him has been found 5 times over a span of a thousand years in the lone valley.

Venus Found at Hohle Fels

     Venus was a god of fertility. Carvings were of different materials including the very first carving using ceramic material,but the first was used with ivory. Evidence of her has been found for ages in the form of Venus figurines.


Geißenklösterle Cave
     In Geißenklösterle cave, deer and mammoths (with ivory) were the main fauna present. A Carving of a special man very similar to the lion man (but unsure) called adorant was found in this cave. Two flutes have also been found from ~42,000 years ago. One was made from ivory and one was made from mute swan bone.

Gross Grote
     This site has evidence of human occupation, but not evidence of human processing of animal meat. This suggests the inhabitants ate else where.


Hohle Fels Cave

Lion Man from Hohle fels

     A couple flutes were found in this cave. Also, two sculptures of the god of sexuality(Lion-Man God) were found. One was a full bodied lion man figurine, and another was of the lion mans head.

     A carving of a mute swan flying was also found, proving that people were living in Hohle Fels and Geißenklösterle at the same time. The mute swan is special in its flight in that it looks like it is running on water before it achieves flight. This may have given the humans ideas that this bird is special and possibly god like. Its an unusual bird that doesn't really sing, hence the name mute bird.

      The female version of the god of sexuality(Venus) called the Venus of Hohle Fels was also found. This one could be worn around a necklace.

Lion Man's head from Hohle fels

     So far, flutes have only been found in Hohle Fels and Geißenklösterle. I predict evidence will appear in the other caves soon, because the discovery in hohle fels was in 2008 and the discovery in Geißenklösterle was 2012.




Passage to Hohlenstein-Stadel
     After a lengthy stay at the lone valley cave system, animals in the surrounding started to run dry. We know this for two reasons. We know deer were the main animal they would eat because of the bones they left behind. After they left, deer wasn't very common.[7] We also know this because at brillenhohle there was cannibalism.

     The Lone Valley group had to trek to another area. They would have to follow the stream to have access to water along the trip. The exact trip they took is unknown and it is unknown the duration of their stops,but we know their final destination along the stream. After 20 miles of traveling along the stream, they made it to Hohlenstein-Stadel.

     The cave complex contains three caves each about a mile apart along a stream  .

A 3 mile stretch of caves

Hohlenstein-stadel
    In this cave, the biggest and most detailed lion man god sculpture was found. As of 2013, It was dated at ~40,000 years ago. This site also seemed to have the most activity in the area. Art of other animals began to develop in the area.

Chewed Lion Man

Vogelherd
     A highly degraded lion man god sculpture was found in this cave. Also a head of the lion man god nearly identical to the lion man sculpture in hohlenstein was found in vogelherd. The Radio-carbon dating for these seem similar to the discoveries in hohlenstein stadel.






Conclusion
     Religious precursors can form simply through hallucinations or creative thinking, But these precursors will never become a religion that will spread past a few people. This is because believing in random things will not benefit the society as true religions do. Religions evolve and survive because they acquire traits that improve the society to different degrees.

     This primitive religion allowed greater survival of the group in south germany. The heightened reproduction improved their numbers and strength.

     This religion may have traveled 600 miles south west to Isturitz, Oxocelhaya and Erberua Caves where 15+ ivory flutes and a lion head has been found.[8] This site is still under work,but this shows the possible spread of the religion.

Flutes found in Isturitz

      In addition, The kostenki-avdeevo culture which came about around 8,000 years after the lone valley culture was found to have made more than 60 venus carvings.The Kostenki-Avdeevo culture even made the sculptures on necklaces just like the venus at Hohle fels. There is a slight route correlation of some venus findings that lead to russia, which could support the idea of this spread.

Additional Information

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Human_language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Caucasian_languages

There are Theories of the way proto language around 40,000 years ago sounded like. Venus was simply putʼ ert. This is a crude theory and mainly just fun to toy with.

Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHy9FOblt7Y (Flute playing on disputed ancient flute)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=313rGMfWnB8 (bochsteinloch cave)



Sources:
[0] WU Fei-fei,JIN Li-ji,LI Xiao-yu,LI Hua-qiang,CAO Zhen-hui,YOU Jian-song,XU Yong-ping(Ministry of Education Center for Food Safety of Animal Origin,College of Life Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology,Dalian 116024,China) (2012). Research progress in active ingredients and pharmacological effects of deer antler Chinese Journal

[1] https://docs.google.com/file/d/1onyP9f0Utt2G3bm-cUnYKlH62U7zCYBYk5CHxeV7mn0TYYS0E1euK2cjp5W-/edit?usp=sharing
[2]http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/article00601.html
[3]http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/282432?uid=3739920&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21101938183907

[4] Schilström, B., Ivanov, V., Wiker, C., & Svensson, T. (2006). Galantamine Enhances Dopaminergic Neurotransmission In Vivo Via Allosteric Potentiation of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Neuropsychopharmacology, 32 (1), 43-53 DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1301087

[5]http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=is-there-a-difference-between-the-brain
[6]http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00114-012-0942-0
[7]http://archaeology.about.com/od/gterms/qt/Geissenklosterle-Germany.htm
[8]https://docs.google.com/file/d/1Mh_I7Td9jg0VZJkN41V8Wz9bDYqzaPEV7I63J-qM513l1z2NuJoYsXNTBPuC/edit?usp=sharing
[9]https://docs.google.com/file/d/1QgLRr4cNLMG3WMOopzhS0OiN9iAgFK_KQ8ktlZrArWVyd7s9y7aD41pRpHDc/edit?usp=sharing

Extra Links:
Evidence for (flute) sexuality
http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-HLJX201203011.htm
http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-ZYXN201003018.htm
http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-ZYXY200905002.htm
http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-XQYI201106038.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15709389
http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-REST201104023.htm
///
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4111360.stm (sock and sex)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347283712728(orgasm)
///
Galantamine(memory of religion)
http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/321/3/1179.short
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20680514
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2175417/The-real-Neanderthal-diet-Researchers-shed-new-light-early-mans-diet--turns-ate-greens-knew-use-plants-medicine.html
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%BChlings-Knotenblume
///
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoric_music
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_human_prehistory
http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/boneflutes.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fossil_sites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_human_evolution_fossils
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoric_art
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height
http://www.historyofinformation.com/
http://anthropology.net/2008/11/04/a-12000-year-old-shaman-from-hilazon-tachtit-israel-the-emergence-of-relgion/
http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo2/mod_homo_2.htm
http://paleo.revues.org/1504 (evidence for cannibalistic behavior at brillenhohle)

Read more

Why Piracetam doesn't Work for some people

     Piracetam (this includes all racetams) needs additional supplements to be fully effective.[1] Even in the scientific community, people used to be confused of its mechanism of action. Now we have research that hasn't been discussed that will help us add additional supplements to increase its effects.

Mechanism
     Piracetam works via AMPA receptors. AMPA receptors need the adrenal glands for signal transmission.[2] This means piracetam can be enhanced (or actually made "work") by things that also simulate adrenal function. Adrenal stimulation is why people often load piracetam until they see benefits.

     The adrenal glands influence the brain in a way to release more glutamate in the brain via potassium. This glutamate is great for memory but eventually degrades into gaba.[4] Gaba is a chemical that will lead to lowered memory. Gaba release is why people feel less anxiety from taking piracetam.

Flickr @ zimpenfish

Piracetam's Side effects
     The side effects of piracetam are very serious, and also very common among people who report it to be working. These side effects come from two different mechanisms.

     Since piracetam works by activating AMPA receptors it can cause lowered adrenal gland function. This adrenal fatigue is reported all of the time despite all of the safety this compound has been said to have. Piracetam also can cause anxiety after prolonged use. This is due to its anxiolytic effect. People usually take cycles of piracetam to combat this, but for some it doesn't prevent side effects.


How to make Piracetam Work
     Piracetam often doesn't work for people because their adrenals are less sensitive to stimulation or their body/brain is in a disease state. Adrenal support supplements will synergize and make piracetam work correctly. Pregnenolone works as a precursor to adrenal function.

     Rats given choline and piracetam have better memory than just choline groups and just piracetam groups. Studies have shown that piracetam raises choline levels as much as 88% even without choline intake.[5] Piracetam alone lowers acetylcholine by about 18% (not good). ALCAR would counteract the lowered acetylcholine levels.

Click to see the image

    Humans have a diet that includes choline, so choline might not be neccesary, but ALCAR is something that would be necessary.

    Often people get headaches when taking ALCAR because their choline/acetyl levels are imbalanced. If that is the case, you must take choline aswell, but youll have to work with your personal dosage.

     Large doses of piracetam effect people in a similar way as a medium dose (bell shaped curve) because the glutamate is being converted into gaba.

     If you block the gaba then you will see only benefits from larger doses of piracetam. Dihydromyricetin in a safe dose will help bring out the benefits.

Ingredients: (Doses are on picture)
Piracetam (or nootpept)
ALCAR
Choline
Dihydromyricetin (or other natural gaba antagonist)
Pregnenolone (or other natural adrenal support)

Synergistics: 
Creatine
MCT Oil

*Warning* Remove the dihydromyricetin dose if you are sensitive to gaba (have seizures) or if you take other gaba antagonists for example, pregnenolone is a gaba agonist but pregnenolone sulfate is a gaba antagonist. Always ask your doctor before you try any supplements.


Links
1 Samartgis JR, Schachte L, Hazi A, & Crowe SF (2012). Piracetam, an AMPAkine drug, facilitates memory consolidation in the day-old chick. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior, 103 (2), 353-8 PMID: 22940587

2 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20820185
3 http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/3002398/reload=0;jsessionid=IbgTP8TjZpsOs7Myx9wJ.10
4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamate_decarboxylase
5 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0197458081900075
6 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166432889800981 Read more

Religious Belief is Purely Social

"If religion was a book, religious people would think of reality as a novel, full of purpose, story, and simplicity.The atheists would take life as a non fiction book based on function, with us acting as mechanisms on the earth. Certainly atheism makes life appear purely plain and dry, which gives people a reason to be religious."-Neurobrainstorm

Intro:

Flickr @ DarkChan

     Religious and atheist people have different views on how the world works. Morals or depression do not affect ones induction to either side. In fact, belief in religion or the absence, is dependent on ones social group and culture, RARELY based on pure beliefs.

     The religious viewpoint is an older (in origin), more simple way to perceive the world , while the atheist idea is a more modern and complex way to understand this reality.

     Friends and other people of the same social group tend to merge into the same belief or religion. Someone is more likely to be socially popular if they are able to converse more often about similar topics they agree on (such as religion). People who arn't very popular tend to disagree with alot of basic social ideas. Most people subconsciously want to be popular so they subscribe to the same beliefs and ideas (unknowingly) as the majority. Religion thus becomes a major point in social groups.

Why Religion is so Social:
Every different culture on earth has different religious traditions. The dominant religion controls the cultures beliefs. This is because popular people tend to agree with the social groups beliefs.

     After being a part of religion for their whole life, a kids parents will urge and force their beliefs upon their kids. The parents understood that their religion was the proper etiquette for their culture (probably from their parents).

      So wanting their kid to fit in and be apart of the society and culture; they punish and force their kids to comply as they would with other similar etiquette issues.

Flickr @ rejik  

      Biblical quotes and similar religion inspired media render social ties. Giving similar things to communicate about allows people to associate within the same social group.

      Every religion has regular rituals. Rituals force same religion people to adhere to the same or similar social groups. These rituals include church "services", prayer, fasting etc..

      In my upcoming book (slow buffer), people are compared to neurons in the brain. Different sections of the brain are like different social groups. In these social groups, the people communicate the same ideas in similar ways. Neurons in the brain have been proven to communicate in similar ways in their cluster structure (part of brain).

Please Continue onto the next part The Evolution of Religion

"Church is like listening to a song.Originally (adolescence), you're loving it because it sounds good and that puts you in a good mood. The more you hear this song, the more you understand the words and meaning. You eventually realize the abstruse (difficult to understand) is not the origin of your good mood. The content of the song SHOULD be essential for appreciation and commitment. Religion is like engaging into anything upbeat for it's anti-depressent properties." - Neurobrainstorm

Read more

The Biological Evolution of Music

     We enjoy listening to music as we like to observe attractive mates. These artists are attractive because they are able to both create music and improve their fertility.

     On an evolutionary aspect, the females who could detect (enjoy the music/be impressed) that the music artist is fertile would produce more babies. Music is basically a strong fertility agent that is used by humans as a sign of attractiveness.

Flickr @ pcambraf

     Not only is the ability to play music showing that you're fertile, it also shows that everything is good and you are not having problems with resources or danger (since your sitting around not concerned about those things).

Biological Reason
     Sperm have mu and delta opioid receptors. Playing music has been proven to release opioids such as beta endorphin in the body.

     The chemical release of beta endophin and other opioids increase sperm motility by activating these receptors. Sperm motility is the highest factor in male fertility. Infertile men have been found to have reduced levels of beta endorphin.

     Dopamine receptors release steroids and neurotransmitters. These chemicals are sexual stimulators. Listening to music has been shown to release dopamine. A heightened arousal will cause more babies to be produced.

History
     The first instruments ever made were flutes almost 35,000 years ago. Ancient flutes are often found in archaeological digs. They were made of simple material that they came in contact with all the time and were probably accidently invented.

Flickr @ Lawrence Rayner

     Listening to these instruments is like seeing a colorful image. Back in these times, humans were only exposed to so many sounds and colors. The way the human brain works is that receiving new material or stimuli releases happy neurotransmitters. The brain only dislikes music when it sees it as a threat or danger. These early instruments such as the flute and drum, evolved into more complex instruments such as the lyre and full blown orchestra.


Links:

Fukuda N, Yomogida K, Okabe M, & Touhara K (2004). Functional characterization of a mouse testicular olfactory receptor and its role in chemosensing and in regulation of sperm motility. Journal of cell science, 117 (Pt 24), 5835-45 PMID: 15522887

Subirán N, Candenas L, Pinto FM, Cejudo-Roman A, Agirregoitia E, & Irazusta J (2012). Autocrine regulation of human sperm motility by the met-enkephalin opioid peptide. Fertility and sterility, 98 (3), 617-625000 PMID: 22749218

Agirregoitia E, Valdivia A, Carracedo A, Casis L, Gil J, Subiran N, Ochoa C, & Irazusta J (2006). Expression and localization of delta-, kappa-, and mu-opioid receptors in human spermatozoa and implications for sperm motility. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 91 (12), 4969-75 PMID: 16984994

Vacher C, Ferrière F, Marmignon MH, Pellegrini E, & Saligaut C (2002). Dopamine D2 receptors and secretion of FSH and LH: role of sexual steroids on the pituitary of the female rainbow trout. General and comparative endocrinology, 127 (2), 198-206 PMID: 12383448

-http://www.nature.com/aja/journal/v8/n6/abs/aja2006110a.html

 -http://www.springerlink.com/content/k43162kpj0714047/

-http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v14/n2/full/nn.2726.html

-http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12383448

-http://www.ispub.com/journal/the-internet-journal-of-urology/volume-2-number-1/the-sperm-count-has-been-decreasing-steadily-for-many-years-in-western-industrialised-countries-is-there-an-endocrine-basis-for-this-decrease.html#sthash.hB9g3HQC.BtMcX5z8.dpbs

-http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/06/25/2608114.htm

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Why Tobacco is still Legal -A side effect of society

Intro:
     People often ask why tobacco is legal in our society. Tobacco kills more people than any other drug and studies have shown it is perhaps more addictive than cocaine and heroin. Companies have only spent 16 million dollars on lobbying, so the fact that it's legal cannot entirely be due to that. I can explain this confusing topic through evolution.

Hormones:
     An increase in Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is something enjoyed by society. It amplifies the perception of masculinity. Androgen receptor (AR) activation causes changes in the body that result in a view of masculinity such as facial hair, broadening of shoulders, and other secondary male characteristics. Testosterone is a weak AR activator compared to DHT.

     Tobacco has been shown to increase DHT (and thus AR activation) through two mechanisms. The first method is through nicotine and its metabolites inhibiting the breakdown of DHT directly.

Flickr @ timparkinson

     The second is that compounds made from processing tobacco (and also smoking it) form compounds that lower the breakdown of testosterone into estrogen. This allows the body more time to breakdown the testosterone into DHT and thus increase its levels.

Evolution:
     DHT increasing drugs are legal because the users are able to transfer their genetics from generation to generation more than non users. This basically means, a tobacco user will be able to reproduce easier because his attractiveness increase from AR activation.

Flickr @ photon_de

     A tobacco user's genes most likely support an addictive use of tobacco. [1'] Studies have shown that genes play a huge role in the severity and number of tobacco addictions. [1'] This means that someone can inherit and contribute to the spread of using tobacco. This spread will force it to stay legal.

     The two major worldwide legal drugs both seem to increase DHT, Tobacco and alcohol. In contrast to the legal drugs, Nearly 100% of illegal drugs have negative effects on DHT or testosterone. Opioids have been shown to deminish all androgen hormones. [3'] Marijuana has been shown to act as an anti DHT chemical. [2']
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1' Chen H, Hiler KA, Tolley EA, Matta SG, & Sharp BM (2012). Genetic factors control nicotine self-administration in isogenic adolescent rat strains. PloS one, 7 (8) PMID: 22937166

2' Brown TT, & Dobs AS (2002). Endocrine effects of marijuana. Journal of clinical pharmacology, 42 (11 Suppl) PMID: 12412841

3' Vermesh M, Silva PD, & Lobo RA (1987). Endogenous opioids modulate the inhibitory effects of androgen on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of normal women. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 65 (6), 1183-6 PMID: 3680480 Read more