Friday, April 28, 2017

epigenetics on arbor day

wonder | wander | women at wonder | wander | world celebrate and honor two on going themes this month - happy days and science.

The Canlaon Wonder Tree is a 1,328 year old balete or banyan.

Happy Arbor Day! Hope you planted your tree or better yet many trees. 

While we are on the subject of green and growing, let us focus on science in general and epigenetics in particular. 

Say what? 

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.

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.

The latest study on nematodes is an important step towards understanding more about our own epigenetic inheritance - especially because it serves as a remarkable demonstration of how long-lasting these inter-generational effects may be.

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