Can Nurture change Nature?
Nurture can influence how Nature is expressed:
the way we were taken care of - or not –
can modify the expression of our DNA and genes!
Several generations after an individual was subjected to early trauma, physiological processes modifying genetic expression, and potentially leading to bold behaviours, can be found in non-traumatized descendants.
I found this fascinating and somewhat concerning, but also a source of hope, when thinking about it further!
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I recently read studies about early-life trauma, and how the impact of those traumas can be felt several generations later. Both the behaviour and physiology of individuals were affected, even though they had not been subjected to early-life trauma themselves.
It’s not just the influence of how parents raise their children, for instance with behaviours arising from their PTSD, it is also the expression of the DNA of the children that is modified. This can be things like metabolic sensitivity (being more prone to diabetes for instance), and changes in neurologic pathways in the brain, that lead to behaviours poorly adjusted to circumstances.
In a study with little male mice, mother separation after birth led to bold behaviours in the adult (who stays in open bright spaces instead of hiding for safety in dark places like mice normally do), and that behaviour was found in their own male descendants up to 6 generations later, though the descendants had not been subjected to any trauma! Scientists found modifications of some RNA and other molecules that affected DNA expression, that were transmitted via the sperm, thereby showing that it was not a matter of embryonic development in utero, but genetic expression potentiated before conception.
So the expression of our genes, influencing our physiology and behaviour, can be impacted by things happening way before us!
If applicable to humans, we can imagine that anybody on this planet may be subjected to such trans-generational influence. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are likely inheritors of problems from our parents, grand-parents, or others who came before them. They probably experienced early separation, war, domestic violence, or some form of abuse.
Wow!
This got me thinking a lot!
Are we doomed, or could we be blessed???
Looking at the increased polarity between communities these days, and the various conflicts in the world, there is a tendency for black and white judgements, and for blaming one another.
Understanding that each of us is deeply influenced by trans-generation experiences means we all have ancestors who did bad things. We all have ancestors who were the victims of bad things too.
That makes blaming much less relevant. We are quite similar, and we are in this together.
Instead of blaming, we can prevent reproducing negative behaviour patterns, and passing them to our descendants.
While early trauma influences how our genes express, our brain, our nervous system have plasticity that can also change our gene expression for the better. Our entire being responds to what we expose it to. Exercise, and you will build new muscles. Learn, and you will create new neural pathways in your brain. Practice meditation regularly, and your brain pathways will be more efficient and your mind more free of stress.
We have choices. We can introspect, make changes, and show more compassion. Let’s get started on evolving today, for yourselves, people around us, and future generations!
I’m definitely still thinking about all this …. More soon!
References:
Post picture from Jocelyn Tsaih at Healing from Trauma
Transgenerational Epigenetics of Traumatic Stress
Implication of sperm RNAs in transgenerational inheritance of the effects of early trauma in mice