Traumatic Stress Can Be Inherited

[Zacs-Master]

I found this pretty amazing. A sort of 'instant' evolution.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/21/study-of-holocaust-survivors-finds-trauma-passed-on-to-childrens-genes

[Old_Geezer]

I'd be wary of such a conclusion as it being passed in the genes (or whatever). The next generation is going to be born into an environment where one or both parents are already stressed.

[Zacs-Master]

OG, why don't you read the article before making uninformed comments?

[Old_Geezer]

I have read the article and I'm still sceptical. Where is the evidence that the genetic changes they monitor was from being passed on rather than being an effect of environment ? Why do you assume something before making accusations ?

[Old_Geezer]

Tell me when they find a group of people taken away from their holocaust surviving parents at birth and brought up in an unstressed family environment.

[ukbod2015]

judging by the people I know with kids its passed on backwards - they seem to pick up on every little stress or issue of their kids rather than encouraging them to be independent.

[Zacs-Master]

Could you counter these findings then?

'They found epigenetic tags on the very same part of this gene in both the Holocaust survivors and their offspring. //Through further genetic analysis, the team ruled out the possibility that the epigenetic changes were a result of trauma that the children had experienced themselves.'

[jim360]

I'm a little sceptical but on the other hand I wouldn't be totally surprised if this turned out to be true either. Stress can have all sorts of physical consequences -- why not this one also?

[Old_Geezer]

You don't count the normal family environment as being trauma. Surely trauma is a particular incident. As for how genes are affected I am not an expert am I am sure those reporting don't know everything either. The article's forth paragraph states that their conclusion is controversial.

[Sqad]

Epigenetic tags"....."gay genes".......it's all good stuff!

\\the team ruled out the possibility that the epigenetic changes were a result of trauma that the children had experienced themselves.'\\

How? Have these Epigenetic tags different molecular configuration, but specific for "stress."

Interesting topic for discussion.....but not a lot more.

A Jew in the 20th and 21st century, with parentage that involved the Holocaust........I might have a stress level, but whether it be due to an "epigene" is quite another matter.

[Zacs-Master]

'Controversial' doesn't mean false but I think the paragraphs I quoted tend to favour it being true.

[sandyRoe]

I wonder do any of these children of Holocaust survivors live in Israel? I believe the stress levels of residents there are very high.

[Huderon]

It's a couple of years old, but this article http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/12/01/mice-inherit-specific-memories-because-epigenetics/ shows that epigeneitc changes can be passed on to your offspring - at least where mice are concerned. So if mice why not humans as well ?

[slaney]

The scientific community, and in particular those who understand epigenetics seemed to be tearing their hair out about this study over the weekend.
I had only access to the abstract, and have no great understanding of the subject.
However, here is an opinion from someone who does...

"Without wishing to beat this study to death, the fact that the DNA methylation difference that characterises the exposed parents is an increase while that characterising the offspring is a decrease is difficult to reconcile with any sort of heritability mechanism.

The story being told by the Holocaust study is indeed fascinating as a scientific possibility, and will no doubt prompt others to pursue similar studies. Unfortunately, the story is typical of many in the field of epigenetics, with conclusions drawn based on uninterpretable studies."

Full article...
http://epgntxeinstein.tumblr.com/post/127416455028/over-interpreted-epigenetics-study-of-the-week