Scientists Have Observed Epigenetic Memories Being Passed Down for 14 Generations

[pangaia]

Scientists Have Observed Epigenetic Memories Being Passed Down for 14 Generations

The most important set of genetic instructions we all get comes from our DNA, passed down through generations. But the environment we live in can make genetic changes, too.

Researchers have now discovered that these kinds of environmental genetic changes can be passed down for a whopping 14 generations in an animal – the largest span ever observed in a creature, in this case being a dynasty of C. elegans nematodes (roundworms).

For example, studies have shown that both the children and grandchildren of women who survived the Dutch famine of 1944-45 were found to have increased glucose intolerance in adulthood.

"Other researchers have found that the descendants of Holocaust survivors have lower levels of the hormone cortisol, which helps your body bounce back after trauma."

https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-have-observed-epigenetic-memories-passed-down-for-14-generations

[delisen]

1. Great article.

[exboyfil]

2. Lamarck was right

At least in part.

[JudyM]

10. Right. Despite what was drummed into our heads in years past.

[Igel]

30. He was right.

Around the edges.

In other words, mostly wrong.

[JudyM]

31. Ontogenetic adaptation in addition to epigenetics.

[mzmolly]

3. Fascinating information.

Thanks for sharing.

[pangaia]

4. I think it can explain a lot....

[Dustlawyer]

5. Wonder what damage Trump is having on our progeny?

[certainot]

8. avoiding orange assholes is probably genetic

[Dustlawyer]

12. That would be a survival adaptation that would pay off for sure if you lived around D.C.,

Florida or NY!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Epigenetics is an under-reported and under-studied field. Will have as big impact as genetics.

Think of genetics as the chassis and the engine of a vehicle. The rest is epigenetics.

Genetics is analogous to what determines if a vehicle is an econobox or a sports car.

Epigenetics determines if the econobox has a hatchback and a stellar sound system. It determines if the sports car has leather seats and a T-roof or has vinyl seats and an 8-track player.

[pangaia]

9. That's a really interesting way to explain it.

One of the first things I thought of when reading this was the effect, usually now denied, of the slave trade, slavery and racism in the past on later and present day generations of African Americans.

It must be a terrible toll. One I can not imagine.

[Ilsa]

29. I've wondered about this as well.

Consider Barak Obama, our first black president. I have always noted to myself that he is not (to the best of my knowledge) a descendant of slaves. Is there a genetic advantage he has over other mixed race POC? Is ut a big advantage?

I've read of the multi-generational effect of slavery and how it plays out economically negatively for descendants of former slaves. I don't remember for certain, but it seems like several hundred years is required for "catching up" economically. I can't begin to imagine the level of possible genetic changes affecting people after several hundred years and many generations of servitude.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. I've been coming across this information for some

time now, and it's incredibly fascinating.

[JudyM]

11. Love this field of research, one of the most interesting in our lifetime.

It also gives hope that what we do on the positive side actually matters, both for offspring and in relation to our own gene expression.

[pangaia]

14. Of course the Tibetans have known about this for quite some time, now.

[JudyM]

15. Huh, yes, that's true. Quite advanced, as we know now.

[oldcynic]

17. we first have to recognize how little "choice" has to do with it. n/t

[JudyM]

18. Care to expand on that perspective?

[oldcynic]

21. ok. Let's start with the fact humans are animals...

You know all those "instinctual" things we attribute to other animals? Has turned out "if they do it we do it, if we do it they do it". We are NOT different.
Nobody "decided" to survive the black plague or get small pox or repeatedly commit genocide. Sorry, even that is instinctual. All organisms breed and expand territory. That's one reason Hawking warns we need to reconsider broadcasting the location of earth. That breed and expand Prime Directive involves destruction of previous inhabitants of the niche. (look up the current ant wars... American ants have been wiped out).
Unless some new natural elements are discovered, organisms throughout the universe are presumably carbon based (it worked well here). Uuuuge assumption, but odds are they will be just like us in one genetic instruction...breed and expand. Until our brains are capable of dealing with the fact that humans operate in the world exactly like all other organisms, red in tooth and claw, then we cannot change ourselves. Aggression is a survival mechanism that honed our brains to devise things for protecting a very puny body. We now have rocks we can throw farther to kill more and no tigers to keep us healthy. There is discussion that lack of figurative tigers may be why we, as a species, are getting dumber.
I also assume that all organisms believe themselves to be the center of the universe, god's chosen, shining lights or whatever. Those Argentine ants probably see themselves as saviors.
Poor homo sapiens sapiens (stupid name...should be homo idiotica sapiens) are certainly convinced it is all about them. Here's a thought, how about the worldwide desperation is a result of humans beginning, just barely beginning, to hear that it's not HUMANS FIRST?
Not understand or cope, but startled by a strange noise in the night that might need looking at. So we grab some alternative facts and creep down the stairs.
All the things that made us special have fallen by the wayside: gods, thumbs (remember that one?), bigger brains, entire worlds, planets, learning, teaching, adapting, I could go on forever, even slime mold can run a maze the first time without mistakes. Hell, we don't even have exclusive right to emotions. Plants can communicate, know their kin, defend themselves, help each other...an existential problem. I now apologize to the lettuce on my hamburger.
Hope I was at least clear. Made me think! Gotta go eat lunch.

[JudyM]

22. Understood. But as well, we can impact our epigenes by e.g., smoking or not smoking.

[oldcynic]

23. Believe me, at gut level I am the superior individual...

Reminds me for some reason of that croc hunter who just got eaten by a croc. He chose to go in the water. He knew how fast crocs move. He knew how big they are. He persisted. At least he's given up smoking. (sorry, sometimes I can't resist snark)
I think about individuals a lot...how they fit into their species structure. Take a look at this incredible video https://www.snotr.com/video/3210/Baby_buffalo_attacked
The events filmed are not supposed to happen. Or were not supposed to happen. It's got everything: individual, group and inter species interaction, altruism, forethought, language, planning, strategy, chaos, confusion, stupidity, that inevitable individual who triggers the mob, all traditionally human. You could insert human actors and make a movie.
Finally concluded that individuals only think they think. That's pretty much backed up by brain studies. Individuals can be butterflies that cause hurricanes but it's purely by chance. Individuals can believe they dance naked on the head of a pin, but species cannot. How about this: individuals are like cells in a body, sometimes they go haywire? Usually doesn't affect the organism.

Here's a sidebar: the entire universe behaves like an organism.
Thanks, this has been fun. I can talk people's heads off.

[JudyM]

24. Ha, yes, certainly there are limits but the limits are not as strict as most believe.

Only in recent years has the extent of brain plasticity been demonstrated, as one significant example.

[oldcynic]

25. Had a thought overnight....

How about this: we are organic robots. Humans, as top predator, have bred ourselves into occupying most available territory on earth and are eyeing other planets. All we need to do, given the dangers of space travel, is build ourselves a non-organic frame to get there. Borg with better pr.
Now I'll shut up.

[JudyM]

27. Ha. Imaginative and creepy.

[oldcynic]

28. no creepier than being holograms.

[pscot]

13. That rumbling sound

is Trofim Denisovich Lysenko stirring in his grave.

[oldcynic]

16. If your ancestors survived the black plague...

Epigenetic studies have found:
-You will be more resistant to small pox and HIV if your ancestors survived the black plague.
-If your grandfather was overnourished, you will die younger.
-If your grandmother was undernourished, her grandchildren will die younger.

Think of genes as having on and off switches, sort of like 1s and 0s in computer language. Those switches are epigenes. How they skip through generations is interesting. My opinion is that the switches go much further back than a mere 14 generations. How about all the way back to LUCA? After all, human origin stories usually include vast waters of one kind or another and we still have gills. Could that be epigenetic memory?

Rummaging around on internet and just found https://muse.jhu.edu/book/13759
Genetics and the Unsettled Past...haven't read it but sounds very intriguing.

The Collision of DNA, Race, and History
Edited by Keith Wailoo, Alondra Nelson, and Catherine Lee

Publication Year: 2012
Our genetic markers have come to be regarded as portals to the past. Analysis of these markers is increasingly used to tell the story of human migration; to investigate and judge issues of social membership and kinship; to rewrite history and collective memory; to right past wrongs and to arbitrate legal claims and human rights controversies; and to open new thinking about health and well-being. At the same time, in many societies genetic evidence is being called upon to perform a kind of racially charged cultural work: to repair the racial past and to transform scholarly and popular opinion about the “nature” of identity in the p . . . show more

[pangaia]

19. Is this saying---

-If my grandfather was overnourished, you will die younger.
-If my grandmother was overnourished I will live longer?

[oldcynic]

20. can't remember...but there are all kinds of records

especially from ancient churches that recorded everything thing from crop yields to what people died of over hundreds of years. Generational effects are numerous.

[orangecrush]

26. Cool stuff

Thanks for posting!