PraiseforTheBiologyofBelief

“BruceLipton’sbookisthedefinitivesummaryofthenewbiologyandallitimplies.Itismagnificent,profoundbeyondwords,andadelighttoread.Itsynthesizesanencyclopediaofcriticalnewinformationintoabrilliantyetsimplepackage.Thesepagescontainagenuinerevolutioninthoughtandunderstanding,onesoradicalthatitcanchangetheworld.”

—JosephChiltonPearce,Ph.D.,

authorofMagicalChildandEvolution’sEnd

“BruceLipton’sdelightfullywrittenTheBiologyofBeliefisamuchneededantidotetothe‘bottom-up’materialismoftoday’ssociety.TheideathatDNAencodesalloflife’sdevelopmentisbeingsuccessfullyemployedingeneticengineering.Atthesametime,theshortfallofthisapproachisbecomingevident.TheBiologyofBeliefisareviewofaquarter-centuryofpioneeringresultsinEpigenetics,heraldedbyTheWallStreetScienceJournalinmid-2004asanimportantnewfield.Itspersonalstylemakesiteminentlyreadableandenjoyable.”

—KarlH.Pribram,M.D.,Ph.D.,

(Hon.Multi),professoremeritus,StanfordUniversity

“Dr.Liptonisagenius.Hisbreakthroughdiscoveriesgiveustoolsforregainingthesovereigntyoverourlives.Irecommendthisbooktoanyonewhoisreadyandwillingtotakefullresponsibilityforthemselvesandthedestinyofourplanet.”

—LeVarBurton,actoranddirector

“BruceLiptonoffersnewinsightsandunderstandingintotheinterfacebetweenbiologicalorganisms,theenvironment—andtheinfluenceofthought,perception,andsubconsciousawareness—ontheexpressionofone’sbodyhealingpotential.Well-referencedexplanationsandexamplesmakethisbookarefreshing‘mustread’forthestudentofthebiological,

social,andhealthcaresciences.Yettheclarityoftheauthor’spresentationmakesitanenjoyablereadforageneralaudience.”

—CarlClevelandIII,D.C.,

President,ClevelandChiropracticCollege

“Dr.Lipton’srevolutionaryresearchhasuncoveredthemissingconnectionsbetweenbiology,psychology,andspirituality.Ifyouwanttounderstandthedeepestmysteriesoflife,thisisoneofthemostimportantbooksyouwilleverread.”

—DennisPerman,D.C.,co-founder,TheMaster’sCircle

“Inthisparadigm-bustingbook,BruceLiptondeliversaTKOtoOldBiology.WithalefttoDarwiniandogmaandarighttoallopathicmedicine,hebreaksoutofthephysicalistboxintoenlightenmentonthemind/body(belief/biology)system.Mustread,muchfun.”

—RalphAbraham,Ph.D.,professorofmathematics,UniversityofCalifornia;authorofChaos,Gaia,Eros

“Powerful!Elegant!Simple!Inastylethatisasaccessibleasitismeaningful,Dr.BruceLiptonoffersnothinglessthanthelongsought-after‘missinglink’betweenlifeandconsciousness.Indoingso,heanswerstheoldestquestionsandsolvesthedeepestmysteriesofourpast.IhavenodoubtthatTheBiologyofBeliefwillbecomeacornerstoneforthescienceofthenewmillennium.”

—GreggBraden,best-sellingauthorofTheGodCodeandTheDivineMatrix

“IfinishedreadingthisbookwiththesamesenseofprofoundrespectIhavewhenIamwithBruceLipton—thatIhavebeentouchedbyarevolutionarysenseofthetruth.Heisbothascientistandaphilosopher;ascientistinthatheprovidesuswithtoolstoalterculturalconsciousnessandaphilosopherbecausehechallengesourbeliefsabouttheverynatureofourperceived

reality.Heishelpinguscreateourownfutures.”

—GuyF.Riekeman,D.C.,

President,LifeUniversityandCollegeofChiropractic

“TheBiologyofBeliefisamilestoneforevolvinghumanity.Dr.BruceLiptonhasprovided,throughhisamazingresearchandinthisinspiringbook,anew,moreawakenedscienceofhumangrowthandtransformation.Insteadofbeinglimitedbythegeneticorbiologicalconstraintsthathumanityhasbeenprogrammedtoliveby,humanitynowhasbeforeitawayofunleashingitstruespiritualpotentialwiththehelpofsimplytransformedbeliefsguidedby‘thegentleandlovinghandofGod.’Adefinitemustreadforthosededicatedtothemind/bodymovementandtothetrueessenceofhealing.”

—Dr.JohnF.Demartini,best-sellingauthorofCountYourBlessingsandTheBreakthroughExperience

“Inaworldofchaos,Dr.Liptonbringsclaritytomankind.Hisworkisthought-provoking,insightful,andwillhopefullyleadpeopletoaskbetterqualityquestionsintheirlivesandtomakebetterdecisions.OneofthemostexcitingbooksIhaveread,thisisamustread.”

—BrianKelly,D.C.,President,NewZealandCollegeofChiropractic;President,AustralianSpinalResearchFoundation

“Finally,acompellingandeasy-to-understandexplanationofhowyouremotionsregulateyourgeneticexpression!Youneedtoreadthisbooktotrulyappreciatethatyouarenotavictimofyourgenesbutinsteadhaveunlimitedcapacitytolivealifeoverflowingwithpeace,happiness,andlove.”

—JosephMercola,D.O.,Founderofwww.mercola.com,world’smost

visitednatural-healthsite

“Thisbookisanabsolutemustreadifyouwanttoknow,fromascientificviewpoint,thatyourlifestyleisincontrolofyourhealthratherthanyourgenetics.Fromascientificviewpoint,Liptondemonstratesthatthemindismorepowerfulthandrugstoregainourhealth.Theinformationrevealsthatyourhealthismoreyourresponsibilitythanjustbeingavictimofyourgenes.WhenIstartedreadingthisbook,Icouldnotstopuntilitwasfinished.”

—M.T.Morter,Jr.,D.C.,

founder,MorterHealthSystem;

developeroftheB.E.S.T.Technique

“Thisisacourageousandvisionarybookthatprovidessolidevidencefromquantumbiologytodispelthemythofgeneticdeterminism—andimplicitly,victimhood.Dr.BruceLiptonbringsasolidscientificmindtonotonlyinformbuttotransformandempowerthereaderwiththerealizationthatourbeliefscreateeveryaspectofourpersonalreality.Aprovocativeandinspiringread!”

—LeePulos,Ph.D.,A.B.P.P.,

professoremeritus,UniversityofBritishColumbia;

authorofMiraclesandOther

RealitiesandBeyondHypnosis

“HistorywillrecordTheBiologyofBeliefasoneofthemostimportantwritingsofourtime.BruceLiptonhasdeliveredthemissinglinkbetweentheunderstandingsofbiomedicineofthepastandtheessentialsofenergetichealingofthefuture.Hiscomplexinsightsareexpressedinareadilyunderstandablefashionwithastylethatwelcomesthescientistandthenonscientistonanequalfooting.Foranyoneinterestedinhealth,thewell-beingofthespecies,andthefutureofhumanlife,TheBiologyofBeliefisamustread.Theimplicationsoftheperspectivesoutlinedhavethepotentialtochangetheworldasweknowit.BruceLipton’sunderstandings—andhisconciseexpressionofthem—aresheergenius.”

—GerardW.Clum,D.C.,

President,LifeChiropracticCollegeWest

THEBIOLOGYOFBELIEF

THEBIOLOGYOFBELIEFUnleashingthePowerofConsciousness,

Matter&Miracles

BruceH.Lipton,Ph.D.

HAYHOUSE,INC.Carlsbad,California•NewYorkCityLondon•Sydney•Johannesburg

Vancouver•HongKong•NewDelhi

Originalcopyright©2005byBruceLiptonRevisedcopyright©2008byMountainofLoveProductions

PublishedanddistributedintheUnitedStatesby:HayHouse,Inc.:www.hayhouse.com•PublishedanddistributedinAustraliaby:HayHouseAustraliaPty.Ltd.:www.hayhouse.com.au•PublishedanddistributedintheUnitedKingdomby:HayHouseUK,Ltd.:www.hayhouse.co.uk•PublishedanddistributedintheRepublicofSouthAfricaby:HayHouseSA(Pty),Ltd.:www.hayhouse.co.za•DistributedinCanadaby:Raincoast:www.raincoast.com•PublishedinIndiaby:HayHousePublishersIndia:www.hayhouse.co.in

Design:NickC.WelchIndexer:RichardComfort

Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedbyanymechanical,photographic,orelectronicprocessorintheformofaphonographicrecording;normayitbestoredinaretrievalsystem,transmitted,orotherwisebecopiedforpublicorprivateuse—otherthanfor“fairuse”asbriefquotationsembodiedinarticlesandreviews—withoutpriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.

Theauthorofthisbookdoesnotdispensemedicaladviceorprescribetheuseofanytechniqueasaformoftreatmentforphysical,emotional,ormedicalproblemswithouttheadviceofaphysician,eitherdirectlyorindirectly.Theintentoftheauthorisonlytoofferinformationofageneralnaturetohelpyouinyourquestforemotionalandspiritualwell-being.Intheeventyouuseanyoftheinformationinthisbookforyourself,whichisyourconstitutionalright,theauthorandthepublisherassumenoresponsibilityforyouractions.

PreviouslypublishedbyMountainofLoveProductions(ISBN:0-9759914-7-7)

LibraryofCongressControlNo.:2008925733

HardcoverISBN:978-1-4019-2311-2TradepaperISBN:978-1-4019-2312-9

1110090843211stHayHouseedition,September2008

PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica

Thisbookisdedicatedto…

TheMotherofUsAll

MaySheforgiveusourtrespasses.

Tomyownmother,Gladys,

whohascontinuallyencouragedandsupportedme

whilebeingpatientforthetwentyyears

ittooktogetthisbookout.

Tomydaughters,TanyaandJennifer,

beautifulwomenoftheworldwhohavealwaysbeenthere

forme…nomatterhowweirdthingshadbecome.

Andespeciallytomydarling,MargaretHorton,

mybestfriend,mylifepartner,mylove.

Maywecontinueonourjoyousquest

tolivehappilyeverafter!

ContentsPrologue

Introduction

Chapter1:LessonsfromthePetriDish:InPraiseofSmartCellsandSmartStudents

Chapter2:It’stheEnvironment,Stupid

Chapter3:TheMagicalMembrane

Chapter4:TheNewPhysics:PlantingBothFeetFirmlyonThinAir

Chapter5:BiologyandBelief

Chapter6:GrowthandProtection

Chapter7:ConsciousParenting:ParentsasGeneticEngineers

Epilogue:SpiritandScience

Addendum

Acknowledgments

Endnotes

AbouttheAuthor

Prologue“Ifyoucouldbeanybody,whowouldyoube?”Iusedtospendan

inordinateamountoftimeponderingthatquestion.IwasobsessedwiththefantasyofchangingmyidentitybecauseIwantedtobeanybodybutme.Ihadagoodcareerasacellbiologistandmedicalschoolprofessor,butthatdidn’tmakeupforthefactthatmypersonallifewas,atbest,ashambles.TheharderItriedtofindhappinessandsatisfactioninmypersonallife,themoredissatisfiedandunhappyIbecame.Inmyreflectivemoments,Iresolvedtosurrendertomyunhappylife.Idecidedthatfatehaddealtmeabadhand,andIshouldsimplyacceptit.Quesera,sera.

Inthefallof1985,mydepressed,fatalisticattitudechangedinonetransformationalmoment.IhadresignedmytenuredpositionattheUniversityofWisconsin’sSchoolofMedicineandwasteachingatanoffshoremedicalcollegeintheCaribbean.Becausetheschoolwassofarfromtheacademicmainstream,Ihadtheopportunitytothinkoutsidetherigidparametersofbeliefthatprevailinconventionalacademia.Farfromtheivorytowers,isolatedonanemeraldislandinthedeepazureCaribbeanSea,Iexperiencedascientificepiphanythatshatteredmybeliefsaboutthenatureoflife.

Mylife-changingmomentoccurredwhileIwasreviewingmyresearchonthemechanismsbywhichcellscontroltheirphysiologyandbehavior.SuddenlyIrealizedthatacell’slifeiscontrolledbythephysicalandenergeticenvironmentandnotbyitsgenes.Genesaresimplymolecularblueprintsusedintheconstructionofcells,tissues,andorgans.Theenvironmentservesasa“contractor”whoreadsandengagesthosegeneticblueprintsandisultimatelyresponsibleforthecharacterofacell’slife.Itisasinglecell’s“awareness”oftheenvironment,notitsgenes,thatsetsintomotionthemechanismsoflife.

AsacellbiologistIknewthatmyinsightshadpowerfulramificationsformylifeandthelivesofallhumanbeings.Iwasacutelyawarethateachofusismadeupofapproximatelyfiftytrillionsinglecells.IhaddevotedmyprofessionallifetobetterunderstandingsinglecellsbecauseIknewthen

andknownowthatthebetterweunderstandsinglecellsthebetterwecanunderstandthecommunityofcellsthatcompriseseachhumanbodyandthatifsinglecellsarecontrolledbytheirawarenessoftheenvironmentsotooarewetrillion-celledhumanbeings.Justlikeasinglecell,thecharacterofourlivesisdeterminednotbyourgenesbutbyourresponsestotheenvironmentalsignalsthatpropellife.

Ontheonehand,mynewunderstandingofthenatureoflifewasajolt.ForclosetotwodecadesIhadbeenprogrammingbiology’scentraldogma—thebeliefthatlifeiscontrolledbygenes—intothemindsofmedicalstudents.Ontheotherhand,mynewunderstandingwasnotacompletesurprise.Ihadalwayshadnigglingdoubtsaboutgeneticdeterminism.Someofthosedoubtsstemmedfrommyeighteenyearsofgovernment-fundedresearchoncloningstemcells.Thoughittookasojournoutsideoftraditionalacademiaformetofullyrealizeit,myresearchofferedincontrovertibleproofthatbiology’smostcherishedtenetsregardinggeneticdeterminismarefundamentallyflawed.

Mynewunderstandingofthenatureoflifenotonlycorroboratedmystemcellresearchbutalso,Irealized,contradictedanotherbeliefofmainstreamsciencethatIhadbeenpropoundingtomystudents—thebeliefthatallopathicmedicineistheonlykindofmedicinethatmeritsconsiderationinmedicalschool.Byfinallygivingtheenergy-basedenvironmentitsdue,itprovidedforagrandconvergenceunitingthescienceandpracticeofallopathicmedicine,complementarymedicine,andthespiritualwisdomofancientandmodernfaiths.

Onapersonallevel,IknewatthemomentofinsightthatIhadgottenmyselfstucksimplybybelievingthatIwasfatedtohaveaspectacularlyunsuccessfulpersonallife.Thereisnodoubtthathumanbeingshaveagreatcapacityforstickingtofalsebeliefswithgreatpassionandtenacity,andhyper-rationalscientistsarenotimmune.Ourwell-developednervoussystem,headedbyourbigbrain,istestamentthatourawarenessisfarmorecomplicatedthanthatofasinglecell.Whenouruniquelyhumanmindsgetinvolved,wecanchoosetoperceivetheenvironmentindifferentways,unlikeasinglecellwhoseawarenessismorereflexive.

IwasexhilaratedbythenewrealizationthatIcouldchangethecharacter

ofmylifebychangingmybeliefs.IwasinstantlyenergizedbecauseIrealizedthattherewasascience-basedpaththatwouldtakemefrommyjobasaperennial“victim”tomynewpositionas“co-creator”ofmydestiny.

IthasbeenmorethantwentyyearssincethatmagicalnightintheCaribbean.Throughouttheinterveningyears,biologicalresearchhascontinuedtocorroboratetheknowledgeIgainedonthatearlymorning.Today,twonewlyevolvedfieldsofsciencerepresentingthemostimportantareasofbiomedicalresearchsubstantiatetheconclusionsofferedinTheBiologyofBelief.

First,thescienceofSignalTransductionfocusesuponthebiochemicalpathwaysbywhichcellsrespondtoenvironmentalcues.Environmentalsignalsengagecytoplasmicprocessesthatcanaltergeneexpressionandtherebycontrolcellfate,influencecellmovement,controlcellsurvival,orevensentenceacelltodeath.Signaltransductionsciencerecognizesthatthefateandbehaviorofanorganismisdirectlylinkedtoitsperceptionoftheenvironment.Insimpleterms,thecharacterofourlifeisbaseduponhowweperceiveit.

Second,thenewscienceofEpigenetics,whichliterallymeans“controlabovethegenes,”hascompletelyupendedourconventionalunderstandingofgeneticcontrol.Epigeneticsisthescienceofhowenvironmentalsignalsselect,modify,andregulategeneactivity.Thisnewawarenessrevealsthatourgenesareconstantlybeingremodeledinresponsetolifeexperiences.Whichagainemphasizesthatourperceptionsoflifeshapeourbiology.

Monthsafterthisbookwasfirstpublished,anarticleinoneofthemostprestigiousjournals,Nature,revealedexcitingnewepigeneticinsightsonhowtheenvironmentcontrolsgeneactivityinstemcells,whichcoincidentlyisthesamesubjectandconclusionIofferinChapter2.ImustadmitthatIwasamusedbythefactthatmychapterisentitled“It’stheEnvironment,Stupid”whilethemorerecentNaturearticlewastitled“It’stheEcology,Stupid.”(2005Nature435:268)Essentially,weareonthesamepage!

Somescientistsinreviewingthisbookasked,“Sowhat’snewaboutthiswork?”Leading-edgescientistsarefamiliarwiththeconceptsproposed

herein,andthat’sagoodthing.Theproblemisrelatedtothefactthatover99percentoftherestofthepopulation,the“layaudience,”isstilloperatingfromantiquatedanddisem-poweringbeliefsaboutbeingvictimsoftheirgenes.

Whileresearchscientistsmightbefamiliarwiththisnewandtrulyradicalshiftinawareness,theseinsightshaveyettotrickledowntothegeneralpublic.Themediaworsensthesituationbymisleadingthepublicwithanever-endingonslaughtofstoriespresumablyidentifyingagenethatcontrolsthiscancerorthatmalady.Consequently,theintentionbehindthisbookistotranslatethesignificanceofthisleading-edgesciencesothatitisaccessibletothelayaudience.Itismysinceresthopethatyouwillrecognizethatmanyofthebeliefspropellingyourlifearefalseandself-limitingandyouwillbeinspiredtochangethosebeliefs.Understandingonascientificlevelhowcellsrespondtoyourthoughtsandperceptionsilluminatesthepathtopersonalempowerment.Theinsightswegainthroughthisnewbiologyunleashthepowerofconsciousness,matter,andmiracles.

TheBiologyofBeliefisnotaself-helpbook;itisaself-empowermentbook.Theinformationoffersknowledgeofselfandfromthatknowledgecomesthepowertocontrolyourlife.

Thisinformationispowerful.Iknowitis.ThelifeIhavecreatedusingthisawarenessissomuchricherandsatisfyingthatInolongeraskmyself:“IfIcouldbeanybody,whowouldIbe?”Fornow,theanswerisano-brainer.Iwanttobeme!

Introduction

TheMagicofCellsIwassevenyearsoldwhenIsteppedupontoasmallboxinMrs.Novak’s

secondgradeclassroom,highenoughtoplopmyeyerightontothelensandeyepieceofamicroscope.Alas,Iwastooclosetoseeanythingbutabloboflight.FinallyIcalmeddownenoughtolistentoinstructionstobackofffromtheeyepiece.Andthenithappened,aneventsodramaticthatitwouldsetthecoursefortherestofmylife.Aparameciumswamintothefield.Iwasmesmerized.Theraucousdinoftheotherkidsfaded,asdidtheback-to-schoolsmellsoffreshlysharpenedpencils,newwaxycrayons,andplasticRoyRogerspencilcases.Mywholebeingwastransfixedbythealienworldofthiscellthat,forme,wasmoreexcitingthantoday’scomputer-animatedspecial-effectsmovies.

Intheinnocenceofmychildmind,Isawthisorganismnotasacellbutasamicroscopicperson,athinking,sentientbeing.Ratherthanaimlesslymovingaround,thismicroscopic,single-celledorganismappearedtometobeonamission,thoughwhatkindofmissionIdidn’tknow.Iquietlywatchedovertheparamecium’s“shoulder”asitbusilycomporteditselfinandaroundthealgalmat.WhileIwasfocusingontheparamecium,alargepseudopodofaganglyamoebabegantooozeintothefield.

JustthenmyvisittothisLilliputianworldendedabruptlywhenGlenn,theclassbully,yankedmeoffthestepanddemandedhisturnatthemicroscope.ItriedtogetMrs.Novak’sattention,hopingthatGlenn’spersonalfoulwouldgetmeanotherminuteatthemicroscopefree-throwline.Butitwasjustminutesbeforelunchtimeandtheotherkidsinlinewereclamoringfortheirturn.Immediatelyafterschool,Iranhomeandexcitedlyrelayedmymicroscopicadventuretomymother.Usingmybestsecond-gradepowersofpersuasion,Iasked,thenbegged,thencajoledmymotherintogettingmeamicroscope,whereIwouldspendhoursmesmerizedbythisalienworldthatIcouldaccessviathemiracleofoptics.

Later,ingraduateschool,Iadvancedtoanelectronmicroscope.Theadvantageofanelectronmicroscopeoveraconventionallightmicroscopeisthatitisathousandtimesmorepowerful.Thedifferencebetweenthetwomicroscopesisanalogoustothedifferencebetweenthe25¢observationtelescopesusedbytouriststoobservescenicvistasandtheorbitingHubbletelescopethattransmitsimagesofdeepspace.Enteringtheelectronmicroscopysuiteofalaboratoryisariteofpassageforaspiringbiologists.Youenterthroughablackrevolvingdoor,similartotheonesseparatingphotographicdarkroomsfromilluminatedworkareas.

IrememberthefirsttimeIsteppedintotherevolvingdoorandbegantoturnit.Iwasindarknessbetweentwoworlds,mylifeasastudentandmyfuturelifeasaresearchscientist.Whenthedoorcompleteditsrotation,Iwasdepositedintoalarge,darkchamber,dimlylitbyseveralredphotographicsafelights.Asmyeyesadaptedtotheavailablelight,Igraduallybecameawedbywhatstoodbeforeme.Theredlightswerereflectingeerilyoffthemirroredsurfaceofamassive,foot-thickchromiumsteelcolumnofelectromagneticlensesthatrosetotheceilinginthecenteroftheroom.Spreadingoutoneithersideatthebaseofthecolumnwasalargecontrolconsole.TheconsoleresembledtheinstrumentpanelsofaBoeing747,filledwithswitches,illuminatedgauges,andmulticoloredindicatorlamps.Largetentacle-likearraysofthickpowercords,waterhoses,andvacuumlinesradiatedfromthebaseofthemicroscopeliketaprootsatthebaseofanoldoaktree.Thesoundofclankingvacuumpumpsandthewhirofrefrigeratedwaterrecirculatorsfilledtheair.ForallIknew,IhadjustemergedontothecommanddeckoftheU.S.S.Enterprise.Apparently,itwasCaptainKirk’sdayoff,forsittingattheconsolewasoneofmyprofessors,whowasengagedintheelaborateprocedureofintroducingatissuespecimenintoahigh-vacuumchamberinthemiddleofthesteelcolumn.

Whiletheminutespassed,IexperiencedafeelingreminiscentofthatdayinsecondgradewhenIfirstsawacell.Finally,agreenfluorescentimageappearedonthephosphorscreen.Thepresenceofdarklystainedcellscouldbarelybediscernedintheplasticsections,whichwereenlargedtoaboutthirtytimestheiroriginalsize.Thenthemagnificationwasincreased,onestepatatime.First100X,then1000X,andthen10,000X.Whenwefinally

hitwarpdrive,thecellsweremagnifiedtoover100,000timestheiroriginalsize.ItwasindeedStarTrek,butratherthanenteringouterspace,weweregoingdeepintoinnerspacewhere“nomanhasgonebefore.”OnemomentIwasobservingaminiaturecell,andsecondslaterIwasflyingdeepintoitsmoleculararchitecture.

Myaweatbeingattheedgeofthisscientificfrontierwaspalpable.SowasmyexcitementwhenIwasmadehonoraryco-pilot.IputmyhandsonthecontrolssothatIcould“fly”overthisaliencellularlandscape.Myprofessorwasmytourguide,pointingoutnotableland-marks:“Here’samitochondrion,there’stheGolgibody,overthereisanuclearpore,thisisacollagenmolecule,that’saribosome.”

MostoftherushIexperiencedcamefrommyvisionofmyselfasapioneer,traversingterritorythathadneverbeenseenbyhumaneyes.Whilethelightmicroscopegavemeanawarenessofcellsassentientcreatures,itwastheelectronmicroscopethatbroughtmefacetofacewiththemoleculesthatweretheveryfoundationoflifeitself.Iknewthatburiedwithinthecytoarchitectureofthecellwerecluesthatwouldprovideinsightintothemysteriesoflife.

Forabriefmoment,themicroscope’sportholesbecameacrystalball;intheeeriegreenglowofitsfluorescentscreenIsawmyfuture.IknewIwasgoingtobeacellularbiologistwhoseresearchwouldfocusonscrutinizingeverynuanceofthecell’sultrastructuretogaininsightsintothesecretsofcellularlife.AsIhadlearnedearlyoningraduateschool,thestructureandfunctionofbiologicalorganismsareintimatelyintertwined.Bycorrelatingthecell’smicroscopicanatomywithitsbehavior,IwassuretogaininsightintothenatureofNature.Throughoutgraduateschool,postdoctoralresearch,andintomycareerasamedicalschoolprofessor,mywakinghourswereconsumedbyexplorationsintothecell’smolecularanatomy.Forlockedwithinthecell’sstructurewerethesecretsofitsfunctions.

Myexplorationofthe“secretsoflife”ledmeintoaresearchcareerstudyingthecharacterofclonedhumancellsgrownintissueculture.Tenyearsaftermyfirstcloseencounterwithanelectronmicroscope,IwasatenuredfacultymemberattheprestigiousUniversityofWisconsinSchoolofMedicine,internationallyrecognizedformyresearchonclonedstem

cells,andhonoredformyteachingskills.Ihadgraduatedtomorepowerfulelectronmicroscopesthatallowedmetotakethree-dimensionalCATscan–likeridesthroughorganismswhereIcamefacetofacewiththemoleculesthataretheveryfoundationoflifeitself.Thoughmytoolsweremoresophisticated,myapproachhadn’tchanged.Ihadneverlostmyseven-year-oldconvictionthatthelivesofthecellsIstudiedhadpurpose.

Unfortunately,Ihadnosuchconvictionthatmyownlifehadapurpose.Ididn’tbelieveinGod,thoughIconfessthatonoccasionIentertainedthenotionofaGodwhoruledwithanextremelyhonedperversesenseofhumor.IwasafterallatraditionalbiologistforwhomGod’sexistenceisanunnecessaryquestion:lifeistheconsequenceofblindchance,theflipofafriendlycard,or,tobemoreprecise,therandomshakeofgeneticdice.ThemottoofourprofessionsincethetimeofCharlesDarwin,hasbeen:“God?Wedon’tneednosteenkingGod!”

It’snotthatDarwindeniedtheexistenceofGod.Hesimplyimpliedthatchance,notDivineintervention,wasresponsibleforthecharacteroflifeonEarth.Inhis1859book,TheOriginofSpecies,Darwinsaidthatindividualtraitsarepassedfromparentstotheirchildren.Hesuggestedthat“hereditaryfactors”passedfromparenttochildcontrolthecharacteristicsofanindividual’slife.Thatbitofinsightsetscientistsoffonafrenziedattempttodissectlifedowntoitsmolecularnutsandbolts,forwithinthestructureofthecellwastobefoundthehereditymechanismthatcontrolledlife.

ThesearchcametoaremarkableendfiftyyearsagowhenJamesWatsonandFrancisCrickdescribedthestructureandfunctionoftheDNAdoublehelix,thematerialofwhichgenesaremade.Scientistsfinallyfiguredoutthenatureofthe“hereditaryfactors”thatDarwinhadwrittenaboutinthe19thcentury.Thetabloidsheraldedthebravenewworldofgeneticengineeringwithitspromiseofdesignerbabiesandmagicbulletmedicaltreatments.Ivividlyrememberthelargeblockprintheadlinesthatfilledthefrontpageonthatmemorabledayin1953:“SecretofLifeDiscovered.”

Likethetabloids,biologistsjumpedonthegenebandwagon.ThemechanismbywhichDNAcontrolsbiologicallifebecametheCentralDogmaofmolecularbiology,painstakinglyspelledoutintextbooks.Inthelong-runningdebateovernaturevs.nurture,thependulumswungdecidedly

tonature.AtfirstDNAwasthoughttoberesponsibleonlyforourphysicalcharacteristics,butthenwestartedbelievingthatourgenescontrolouremotionsandbehaviorsaswell.Soifyouarebornwithadefectivehappinessgene,youcanexpecttohaveanunhappylife.

Unfortunately,IthoughtIwasoneofthosepeoplevictimizedbyamissingormutanthappinessgene.Iwasreelingfromarelentlessbarrageofdebilitatingemotionalroundhousepunches.Myfatherhadjustdiedafteralong,pain-fraughtbattlewithcancer.IwashisprincipalcaretakerandhadspentthepreviousfourmonthsflyingbackandforthbetweenmyjobinWisconsinandhishomeinNewYorkeverythreeorfourdays.Inbetweenstaysathisdeathbed,Iwastryingtomaintainaresearchprogram,teach,andwriteamajorgrantrenewalfortheNationalInstitutesofHealth.

Tofurthercompoundmystresslevels,Iwasinthemidstofanemotionallydrainingandeconomicallydevastatingdivorce.MyfinancialresourceswererapidlydepletedasItriedtofeedandclothemynewdependents,thejudicialsystem.Economicallychallengedandhomeless,Ifoundmyselflivingprettymuchoutofasuitcaseinamostabysmal“garden”apartmentcomplex.Mostofmyneighborswerehopingto“upgrade”theirlivingstandardsbyseekingaccommodationsintrailerparks.Iwasparticularlyscaredofmynext-doorneighbors.Myapartmentwasbrokeninto,andmynewstereosystemwasstoleninmyfirstweekofresidence.Aweeklater,six-foottall,three-footwideBubbaknockedonmydoor.Holdingaquartofbeerinonehandandpickinghisteethwithaten-pennynailheldintheother,BubbawantedtoknowifIhadthedirectionsforthetapedeck.

ThenadirwasthedayIthrewthephonethroughtheglassdoorofmyoffice,shatteringthe“BruceH.Lipton,Ph.D.AssociateProfessorofAnatomy,U.W.SchoolofMedicine”sign,allthewhilescreaming,“Getmeoutofhere!”Mymeltdownwasprecipitatedbyaphonecallfromabanker,whopolitelybutfirmlytoldmehecouldn’tapprovemymortgageapplication.ItwaslikethescenefromTermsofEndearmentwhenDebraWingeraptlyrespondstoherhusband’shopesfortenure:“Wedon’thaveenoughmoneytopaythebillsnow.Alltenuremeansiswewon’thaveenoughmoneyforever!”

TheMagicofCells—DéjàVuLuckily,Ifoundanescapeintheformofashort-termsabbaticalata

medicalschoolintheCaribbean.Iknewallmyproblemswouldnotdisappearthere,butasthejetbrokethroughthegraycloudcoveraboveChicago,itfeltthatway.Ibittheinsideofmycheektopreventthesmileonmyfacefromevolvingintoaudiblelaughter.Ifeltasjoyfulasmyseven-year-oldself,firstdiscoveringmylife’spassion,themagicofcells.

Mymoodliftedevenmoreonthesix-passengercommuterplanethattookmetoMontserrat,amerefour-by-twelve-miledotintheCaribbeanSea.IfthereeverwasaGardenofEden,itprobablywouldhaveresembledmynewislandhome,eruptingoutofthesparklingaquamarinesealikeagiantmultifacetedemerald.Whenwelanded,thegardenia-lacedbalmybreezesthatswepttheairport’starmacwereintoxicating.

Thenativecustomwastodedicatethesunsetperiodasatimeofquietcontemplation,acustomIreadilyadopted.Aseachdaywounddown,Ilookedforwardtotheheavenlylightshow.Myhouse,situatedonaclifffiftyfeetabovetheocean,facedduewest.Awindingpaththroughatree-coveredferngrottoledmedowntothewater.Atthebottomofthegrotto,anopeningthroughawallofjasminebushesrevealedasecludedbeach,whereIenhancedthesunsetritualbywashingawaythedaywithafew“laps”inthewarm,gin-clearwater.Aftermyswim,Iwouldmoldthebeachsandintoacomfortablerecliner,sitback,andwatchthesunsetslowlyintothesea.

Onthatremoteisland,Iwasoutoftheratraceandfreetoseetheworldwithouttheblindersofcivilization’sdogmaticbeliefs.Atfirstmymindwasconstantlyreviewingandcritiquingthedebaclethatwasmylife.ButsoonmymentalSiskelandEbertceasedtheirthumbsup/thumbsdownreviewofmyfortyyears.Ibegantore-experiencewhatitwasliketoliveinthemomentandforthemoment.Tobecamereacquaintedwithsensationslastexperiencedasacarefreechild.Toagainfeelthepleasureofbeingalive.

Ibecamemorehumanandmorehumanewhilelivinginthatislandparadise.Ialsobecameabettercellbiologist.Almostallofmyformalscientifictrainingwasinsterile,lifelessclassrooms,lecturehalls,andlaboratories.However,onceIwasimmersedintheCaribbean’srich

ecosystem,Ibegantoappreciatebiologyasaliving,breathing,integratedsystemratherthanacollectionofindividualspeciessharingapieceoftheearth’sturf.

Sittingquietlywithingarden-likeislandjunglesandsnorkelingamongthejeweledcoralreefsgavemeawindowintotheisland’samazingintegrationofplantandanimalspecies.Allliveinadelicate,dynamicbalance,notonlywithotherlifeformsbutwiththephysicalenvironmentaswell.Itwaslife’sharmony—notlife’sstruggle—thatsangouttomeasIsatintheCaribbeanGardenofEden.IbecameconvincedthatcontemporarybiologypaystoolittleattentiontotheimportantroleofcooperationbecauseitsDarwinianrootsemphasizelife’scompetitivenature.

TothechagrinofmyU.S.facultycolleagues,IreturnedtoWisconsinascreamingradicalbentonchallengingthesacredfoundationalbeliefsofbiology.IevenbegantoopenlycriticizeCharlesDarwinandthewisdomofhistheoryofevolution.Intheeyesofmostotherbiologists,mybehaviorwastantamounttoapriestburstingintotheVaticanandclaimingthePopewasafraud.

MycolleaguescouldbeforgivenforthinkingacoconuthadhitmeontheheadwhenIquitmytenuredpositionand,fulfillingmylife’sdreamtobeinarock‘n’rollband,tookoffonamusictour.IdiscoveredYanni,whoeventuallybecameabigcelebrity,andproducedalasershowwithhim.ButitsoonbecameclearthatIhadalotmoreaptitudeforteachingandresearchthanIdidforproducingrock‘n’rollshows.Iwounddownmymidlifecrisis,whichI’lldescribeinmoreagonizingdetailinalaterchapter,bygivingupthemusicbusinessandreturningtotheCaribbeantoteachcellbiologyagain.

MyfinalstopinconventionalacademiawasatStanfordUniversity’sSchoolofMedicine.BythattimeIwasanunabashedproponentofa“new”biology.IhadcometoquestionnotonlyDarwin’sdog-eat-dogversionofevolutionbutalsobiology’sCentralDogma,thepremisethatgenescontrollife.Thatscientificpremisehasonemajorflaw—genescannotturnthemselvesonoroff.Inmorescientificterms,genesarenot“self-emergent.”Somethingintheenvironmenthastotriggergeneactivity.Thoughthatfacthadalreadybeenestablishedbyfrontierscience,

conventionalscientistsblindedbygeneticdogmahadsimplyignoredit.MyoutspokenchallengeoftheCentralDogmaturnedmeintoevenmoreofascientificheretic.NotonlywasIacandidateforexcommunication,Iwasnowsuitableforburningatthestake!

InalectureduringmyinterviewatStanford,Ifoundmyselfaccusingthegatheredfaculty,manyoftheminternationallyrecognizedgeneticists,ofbeingnobetterthanreligiousfundamentalistsforadheringtotheCentralDogmadespiteevidencetothecontrary.Aftermysacrilegiouscomments,thelectureroomeruptedintoshoutsofoutragethatIthoughtmeanttheendofmyjobapplication.Instead,myinsightsconcerningthemechanicsofanewbiologyprovedtobeprovocativeenoughtogetmehired.WiththesupportofsomeeminentscientistsatStanford,especiallyfromthePathologyDepartment’schairman,Dr.KlausBensch,Iwasencouragedtopursuemyideasandapplythemtoresearchonclonedhumancells.Tothesurpriseofthosearoundme,theexperimentsfullysupportedthealternativeviewofbiologythatIwaspostulating.Ipublishedtwopapersbasedonthisresearchandleftacademia,thistimeforgood.(Lipton,etal,1991,1992)Ileftbecause,despitethesupportIgotatStanford,Ifeltthatmymessagewasfallingondeafears.Sincemydeparture,newresearchhasconsistentlyvalidatedmyskepticismabouttheCentralDogmaandtheprimacyofDNAincontrollinglife.Infact,epigenetics,thestudyofthemolecularmechanismsbywhichenvironmentcontrolsgeneactivity,istodayoneofthemostactiveareasofscientificresearch.Thenewlyemphasizedroleoftheenvironmentinregulatinggeneactivitywasthefocusofmycellresearchtwenty-fiveyearsago,longbeforethefieldofepigeneticswasevenestablished.(Lipton1977a,1977b)Whilethatisgratifyingformeintellectually,IknowthatifIwereteachingandresearchinginamedicalschool,mycolleagueswouldstillbewonderingaboutthosecoconutsbecauseinthelastdecadeIhavebecomeevenmoreofaradicalbyacademia’sstandards.Mypreoccupationwithanewbiologyhasbecomemorethananintellectualexercise.Ibelievethatcellsteachusnotonlyaboutthemechanismsoflife,butalsoteachushowtoliverich,fulllives.

Inivorytowerscience,thatkindofthinkingwouldnodoubtwinmethewackyDr.Dolittleawardforanthropomorphismormorepreciselycytopomorphism—thinkinglikeacell,butformeitisBiology101.You

mayconsideryourselfanindividual,butasacellbiologist,Icantellyouthatyouareintruthacooperativecommunityofapproximatelyfiftytrillionsingle-celledcitizens.Almostallofthecellsthatmakeupyourbodyareamoeba-like,individualorganismsthathaveevolvedacooperativestrategyfortheirmutualsurvival.Reducedtobasicterms,humanbeingsaresimplytheconsequenceof“collectiveamoebicconsciousness.”Asanationreflectsthetraitsofitscitizens,ourhuman-nessmustreflectthebasicnatureofourcellularcommunities.

LivingtheLessonsofCellsUsingthesecellcommunitiesasrolemodels,Icametotheconclusion

thatwearenotvictimsofourgenes,butmastersofourfates,abletocreatelivesoverflowingwithpeace,happiness,andlove.Itestedmyhypothesisinmyownlifeafteranudgefrommyaudiences,whoaskedmewhymyinsightshadn’tmademeanyhappier.Theywereright:Ineededtointegratemynewbiologicalawarenessintomydailylife.IknewIhadsucceededwhen,onabrightSundaymorningintheBigEasy,acoffee-shopwaitressaskedme:“Honey,youarethehappiestpersonIeverdidsee.Tellmechild,whyareyousohappy?”Iwastakenabackbyherquestion,butneverthelessIblurtedout,“I’minHeaven!”Thewaitressshookherheadfromsidetosidemumbling,“My,my,”andthenproceededtotakemybreakfastorder.Well,itwastrue.Iwashappy,happierthanIhadeverbeeninmylife.

AnumberofyoucriticalreadersmayrightlybeskepticalofmyclaimthatEarthisHeaven.Forbydefinition,HeavenisalsotheabodeoftheDeityandtheblesseddead.DidIreallythinkthatNewOrleans,oranyothermajorcity,couldbepartofHeaven?Raggedhomelesswomenandchildrenlivinginalleys;airsothickthatonewouldneverknowifstarsreallyexisted;riversandlakessopollutedthatonlyunimaginable“scary”lifeformscouldexistinthem.ThisEarthisHeaven?TheDeityliveshere?HeknowstheDeity?

Theanswerstothosequestionsare:yes,yes,andIbelieveIdo.Well,tobecompletelyhonest,ImustadmitthatIdon’tknowalloftheDeitypersonally,forIdon’tknowallofyou.ForGod’ssakethereareoversixbillionofYOU.Andtobemorefullyhonest,Idon’treallyknowallofthe

membersoftheplantandanimalkingdomeither,thoughIbelievetheyalsocompriseGod.

IntheimmortalwordsofToolTime’sTimTaylor:“Baaaaackthetruckup!IshesayingthathumansareGod?”

Well…yesIam.OfcourseIamnotthefirsttohavesaidthat.ItiswritteninGenesisthatwearemadeintheimageofGod.Yes,thiscard-carryingrationalistisnowquotingJesus,Buddha,andRumi.Ihavecomefullcirclefromareductionist,scientifictakeonlifetoaspiritualone.WearemadeintheimageofGod,andweneedtoputSpiritbackintotheequationwhenwewanttoimproveourphysicalandourmentalhealth.

Becausewearenotpowerlessbiochemicalmachines,poppingapilleverytimewearementallyorphysicallyoutoftuneisnottheanswer.Drugsandsurgeryarepowerfultoolswhentheyarenotoverused,butthenotionofsimpledrugfixesisfundamentallyflawed.EverytimeadrugisintroducedintothebodytocorrectfunctionA,itinevitablythrowsofffunctionB,C,orD.Itisnotgene-directedhormonesandneurotransmittersthatcontrolourbodiesandourminds;ourbeliefscontrolourbodies,ourminds,andthusourlives…Ohyeoflittlebelief!

TheLightOutsideoftheBoxInthisbookIwilldrawtheproverbiallineinthesand.Ononesideofthe

lineisaworlddefinedbyneo-Darwinism,whichcastslifeasanunendingwaramongbattling,biochemicalrobots.Ontheothersideofthelineisthe“NewBiology,”whichcastslifeasacooperativejourneyamongpowerfulindividualswhocanprogramthemselvestocreatejoy-filledlives.WhenwecrossthatlineandtrulyunderstandtheNewBiology,wewillnolongerfractiouslydebatetheroleofnurtureandnaturebecausewewillrealizethatthefullyconsciousmindtrumpsbothnatureandnurture.AndIbelievewewillalsoexperienceasprofoundaparadigmaticchangetohumanityaswhenaround-worldrealitywasintroducedtoaflat-worldcivilization.

Humanities’majors,whomaybeworriedthatthisbookoffersanincomprehensiblesciencelecture,havenofear.WhenIwasanacademic,Ichafedatthethree-piece,itchysuit,theconstrictingtie,thewing-tipshoes,

andtheinterminablemeetings,butIlovedtoteach.Andinmypost-academialife,I’vegottenplentyofteachingpractice;IhavepresentedtheprinciplesoftheNewBiologytothousandsofpeopleallaroundtheworld.Throughthoselectures,Ihavehonedmypresentationofthescienceintoeasy-to-understandEnglishillustratedbycolorfulcharts,manyofwhicharereplicatedinthisbook.

InChapter1,Idiscuss“smart”cellsandwhyandhowtheycanteachussomuchaboutourownmindsandbodies.InChapter2,Ilayoutthescientificevidencetoshowyouthatgenesdonotcontrolbiology.Ialsointroduceyoutotheexcitingdiscoveriesofepigenetics,anewfieldofbiologythatisunravelingthemysteriesofhowtheenvironment(nature)influencesthebehaviorofcellswithoutchangingthegeneticcode.Itisafieldthatisuncoveringnewcomplexitiesinthenatureofdisease,includingcancerandschizophrenia.

Chapter3isaboutthecell’smembrane,the“skin”ofthecell.YounodoubthaveheardmoreabouttheDNA-containingnucleusofthecellthanyouhaveaboutitsmembrane.ButfrontierscienceisrevealinginevergreaterdetailwhatIconcludedovertwentyyearsago,thatthemembraneisthetruebrainofthecellularoperation.InChapter4,Italkaboutthemind-bendingdiscoveriesofquantumphysics.Thosediscoverieshaveprofoundimplicationsforunderstandingandtreatingdisease.However,theconventionalmedicalestablishmenthasnotyetincorporatedquantumphysicsintoitsresearchormedicalschooltraining,withtragicresults.

InChapter5,IexplainwhyInamedthisbookTheBiologyofBelief.Positivethoughtshaveaprofoundeffectonbehaviorandgenesbutonlywhentheyareinharmonywithsubconsciousprogramming.Andnegativethoughtshaveanequallypowerfuleffect.Whenwerecognizehowthesepositiveandnegativebeliefscontrolourbiology,wecanusethisknowledgetocreatelivesfilledwithhealthandhappiness.Chapter6revealswhycellsandpeopleneedtogrowandhowfearshutsdownthatgrowth.

Chapter7focusesuponconsciousparenting.Asparentsweneedtounderstandtheroleweplayinprogrammingourchildren’sbeliefsandtheimpactthosebeliefshaveonourchildren’slives.Thischapterisimportantwhetheryouareaparentornotfor,asa“former”child,theinsightintoour

programminganditsimpactuponourlivesisquiterevealing.IntheEpilogue,IreviewhowmyunderstandingoftheNewBiologyledmetorealizetheimportanceofintegratingtherealmsofSpiritandScience,whichwasaradicalshiftfrommybackgroundasanagnosticscientist.

Areyoureadytouseyourconsciousmindtocreatealifeoverflowingwithhealth,happiness,andlovewithouttheaidofgeneticengineersandwithoutaddictingyourselftodrugs?Areyoureadytoconsideranalternaterealitytothatprovidedbythemedicalmodelofthehumanbodyasabiochemicalmachine?Thereisnothingtobuy,andtherearenopoliciestotakeout.Itisjustamatteroftemporarilysuspendingthearchaicbeliefsyouhaveacquiredfromthescientificandmediaestablishmentssothatyoucanconsidertheexcitingnewawarenessofferedbyleading-edgescience.