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American researchers have discovered that there is a specific part of DNA - a part called the telomere - that can predict how long someone will live. This fact is fits strikingly well with the Oriental Medicine concept of Jing.
In essence, the telomere, which exists in the DNA of every cell in the body, is like a "fuse" that shortens as we get older. When it can no longer shorten, the cell dies. People over 60 with short telomeres are twice as likely to die in the next 15 years as those who have long telomeres.
In Oriental Medicine, one of the "Three Treasures" is called Jing. Jing is described as the essence of the body's physical structure. It is received from one's parents in a set amount that is present at birth. As we age, it diminishes and when it is used up, we die. It is also described as being so small that it is not visible.
This description of Jing could easily be describing our DNA. We get our genetic material - the pattern that creates our physical structure - from our parents; it is certainly too small to see with the naked eye; and now we discover that it diminishes as we age until, when a part of it is sufficiently used up, we die.
Kind of makes you wonder what sort of electron microscopes they had in ancient China, doesn't it?
(link) [The Independent - Medical Links]