While I am struggling
to make a coherent story about the estrogen signaling pathway I studied
extensively the last months, I am confronted with an huge harsh world beyond my
own tiny clog in the big wheel. Estrogen is a hormone which is not causing my
troubled thoughts by the way. Although, it could have caused some cognitive disturbances
when I was pregnant and maybe it enhances my emotions a little in this typical
time of the month. It might even
influence my maternal behavior but it is not solely a feminine trouble maker. Moreover,
even men depend on estrogen in their delicate homeostasis, a shortage will
cause osteoporosis and men wouldn’t have a proper prostate for example if it
wasn’t for estrogen’s role in the fetal development .
Estrogen binds to the
estrogen receptor, obviously, but then the confusion probably sets in. We have
got alpha and beta estrogen receptors and they are classified as nuclear receptors
because they are found in the cell, close to the cell nucleus. Once the ligand,
that is the hormone in this case, binds to the receptor, the latter starts to
switch an estrogen gene on or off which in turn … (well, you’ll have to read my
report if you really want to know how this story may or may not be continued).
In the meanwhile I
receive updates from my dearly beloved traveling offspring. The daughter in Ghana
is using her anthropological skills to determine if she is ready for more than a
day job at the local art-market. The son and his companions are on their way to
test distant hostels, challenging that with, in my opinion, a little too much
of the products of the local breweries.
Not while they drive though. But what shocked me more than I could
imagine beforehand was that their journey also means excursions I would never
consider even if it would be mandatory. Honestly, I wonder what it is that
makes kids, young men and probably also young women, go there.
I am talking about
Auschwitz and Tsjernobyl, both places ultimately connected to disaster and loss
of so many. Pictures cannot describe the feeling, they wrote, neither can
words. Why would someone voluntarily want to experience such a feeling? Am I
ignorant? I won’t say that, I am quite likely able to imagine how it feels
there and I don’t want that imprinted in my soul. For the second place, I still
remember vividly the news reporting about the accident with the nuclear plant
and the immense outcome back in 1986. That year I went to the former Yugoslavia
for my vacation and it scared me to go so close near the disastrous area. Well,
they may explain it further to me when they return home, my kids. I already
learned from them that the dose of radio-activity is higher in a transatlantic
flight than it is there. And all four of
them do have a scientific education, they don’t avoid the truth, contrary they
are looking for it. Even the not so nice
aspects are part of our lives.
Thankfully, the other
daughter is closer to home although abroad. She is charging her battery with
books she finds in the local charity shops and doing lots of other shopping and
girly stuff. And the youngest daughter follows her friends to sunny places in
typical tourist locations neither too far away. I, however, had to dig deep to
find my own dream destination this year, that is as soon as I would have
finished this assignment. The core of what I am looking for is beauty, a good
feeling that refills me for the next year. I know that it won’t be enough to
simply read or watch movies and pictures about such places. I am receptive to feel good.