Epigenetics is an emerging science, that is meant to change the way we think about DNA, and its effects on our health. The science of Epigenetics is the study of variation or change in gene activity that do not involve adaptations to the genetic code but still get passed down to at least one subsequent generation.The following video describes the old beliefs of how DNA controlled our health, while comparing and explaining the new way of thinking which is Epigenetics. It is important to understand the following in order to comprehend the astounding revolutions, Epigenetics may have within the medical community.
Epigenetics suggests that your genes are effected by your behavior, emotions, and experiences.
In studies of rats, "Parental care plays an important role in the emotional and cognitive development of the offspring. Children who have been exposed to abuse or neglect are more likely to develop numerous psychopathologies, while good parent-infant bonding is associated with improved resiliency to stress."
What Does It All Mean...?
Epigenetics, suggests that our own thoughts, emotions, and experiences control our overall physical and mental health. For example if a particular person chooses to smoke and eat in an excessive amounts throughout his/her life, it can change the epigentic marks atop your DNA. Resulting in the subsequent generation to show weak signs of longevity (Age) due to smoking, and or being more prone to obesity due to the over eating of the previous generation.
[Video]How You Control Your Own Healing
Sources:Why Your DNA Isn't Your Destiny: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1951968,00.html#ixzz14wV1BQuV
Genes as Mirrors of Life Experiences: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/health/09brain.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
While the nature of parental upbringing affects a child's behaviour in his/her later years, I am not so sure about how things affect the next generation. It's honestly weird, to me, to think that genes are affected by experiences or emotions. But I'm not a scientist. :P
ReplyDeleteI Believe that both play a huge role in developing who we are. Parents are the Nurture side of things and Epigenetic's are kind of the Nature. Both come together to shape the person you are mentally, physically, and emotionally
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting post that is somewhat worrisome. I am hesitant to believe all that you have told me but your posts ideas are very compelling. To think that what we do affects the next generation makes you think a little differently about the choices you make. This is one of my favorite posts. Yay Will!
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be the obvious thing to me. I mean think about it, the theory of evolution sums up that where and how we live allows living things to adapt and evolve accordingly. Wouldn't that mean that experiences affect us on a genetic level?
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! I definitly think that our own thoughts, experiences, etc. play a part in determining who we are, however I am sceptical to say it is the only factor. Epigenetics is something that I have never heard of before, but seems like something that we will be hearing more about in the future.
ReplyDeleteWe control our destinies.
ReplyDeleteAs the famous Blair Waldorf stated in Gossip Girl;
Destiny is for losers.
It's just a stupid excuse
to wait for things
to happen instead of making them happen.
-Blair Waldorf.
I can believe it. You learn from many of the things that your parents do. You realize later in life you have a choice to go with these learned behaviors or not.
ReplyDeleteWhile DNA plays a role in our physical bodies the way we where raised is also a large part of who we are. Our relationships to people and the world contribute just as much. I think selecting genes so you can get what you want in your children is breaking nature and would cause massive problems.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jeanne on this one, we were created the way we were for a reason. We also make the decisions we make for a reason as well. Although we can control what we do to a certain degree, there are people that have children with defaults that have never done anything wrong in their entire life. Although we are all made of DNA, things just happen.. But this does make me wonder about what would happen in the case of a blood transfusion...
ReplyDeleteNot as blunt as Nicoles response but I believe that same ideal. If you want something to change you make it change nothing will keep you from doing something if you want it bad enough.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how to feel about this information. I do believe that you learn by observing, but I find it somewhat hard to believe that this can change your DNA.
ReplyDeleteNature vs. Nurture once again. It will ALWAYS be a combination of the two. There may be one person more apt to be effected by their DNA, and there may also be people more mailable by outer influenced.
ReplyDelete