Year of Darwin - RNA-Mediated Epigenetic Inheritance

[BlueEye222]

Bruce Lipton has jumped on the epigenetics bandwagon and mixed it with new age nonsense and pseudo-science. Interesting to listen to for stimulating the imagination but that's about all

[TodaysThought]

This is way over my head. I have seen some videos that promote the idea that genes are influenced or changed by the environment. Is that true?

[Hirvassalo]

Yes it is. Or, to put it more accurately, living cells have systems by which they can sense and analyze the environment as well as functions by which they can respond to (various kinds of) environmental stresses by rearranging their DNA.

I think the best source for more information is biochemist/molecular biologist James A. Shapiro's (University of Chicago) website about Genome System Architecture, Repetitive DNA and Natural Genetic Engineering.

I can give the link in PM if you are interested.

[TodaysThought]

Thanks for the response and I got the link. Ill check that out.

I dont know how to ask this question but....in this context, do our very thoughts also change ourt genes?

[Hirvassalo]

I don't think they do. Mere thought isn't really a stress that needs genomic restructuring, is it?

When the genome functions normally and needs no changes, the cells do everything in their might to supress all sources of change. For all possible periods of crisis, they have these NGE systems, and they can be activated (turned temporarily on) when the functioning of the genome is threatened. Shapiro's article "Revisiting the Central Dogma in the 21st Century" has a good list of example cases.

[TodaysThought]

Thanks again,

I was watching a video. Where Mind and Matter Meet. Bruce Lipton Ph.D presents a lecture on the science of consciousness, quantum mechanics, fractals, cell behavior, and how they are all interconnected.

I was trying to figure out what the hell he's talking about.

Also, it just got me interested in the topic.