Study of Holocaust survivors finds trauma passed on to children's genes

[Sherbang]

New finding is first example in humans of the theory of epigenetic inheritance: the idea that environmental factors can affect the genes of your children

Genetic changes stemming from the trauma suffered by Holocaust survivors are capable of being passed on to their children, the clearest sign yet that one person’s life experience can affect subsequent generations.

The conclusion from a research team at New York’s Mount Sinai hospital led by Rachel Yehuda stems from the genetic study of 32 Jewish men and women who had either been interned in a Nazi concentration camp, witnessed or experienced torture or who had had to hide during the second world war.

They also analysed the genes of their children, who are known to have increased likelihood of stress disorders, and compared the results with Jewish families who were living outside of Europe during the war.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/...ors-finds-trauma-passed-on-to-childrens-genes

 

[etienne_marais]

Reparations for how many generations after then ?

 

[mercurial]

This is hardly groundbreaking. It's well known for a while that we inherit our ancestors fears etc.

 

[Techne]

This is hardly groundbreaking. It's well known for a while that we inherit our ancestors fears etc.

So it is well known that we inherit our fears from our forefathers? Really? Which fears are you talking about?

 

[etienne_marais]

So it is well known that we inherit our fears from our forefathers? Really? Which fears are you talking about?

Indeed, the old nature/nurture debate...

There was however a gene identified with some Scandinavian populace which implied predisposition to violent behaviour. (The gene did not dictate that you WILL be violent, but that a person with that gene is more likely to be violent).

 

[marine1]

This is hardly groundbreaking. It's well known for a while that we inherit our ancestors fears etc.

Never knew this

 

[mercurial]

So it is well known that we inherit our fears from our forefathers? Really? Which fears are you talking about?

Nothing that you can't Google...

 

[biometrics]

Is this a conclusion waiting for a study?

 

[Techne]

Indeed, the old nature/nurture debate...

There was however a gene identified with some Scandinavian populace which implied predisposition to violent behaviour. (The gene did not dictate that you WILL be violent, but that a person with that gene is more likely to be violent).

Predispositions (e.g. a propensity to be involved in violent behaviour) and mental content (e.g. a fear) are entirely different in nature. To say you can inherit fears (i.e. a kind of mental content) and then say this is well known sounds like crackpottery.

 

[Techne]

Nothing that you can't Google...

That is cute, make a controversial, possibly crackpot statement and expect others to google it.

 

[mercurial]

That is cute, make a controversial, possibly crackpot statement and expect others to google it.

I'm not going to Google stuff and post links when you can do that in a few seconds.

 

[Techne]

I'm not going to Google stuff and post links when you can do that in a few seconds.

That is not a smart way of trying to convince someone to take your controversial and likely crackpot claims seriously. But ok, to each his own.

 

[mercurial]

That is not a smart way of trying to convince someone to take your controversial and likely crackpot claims seriously. But ok, to each his own.

I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. It's an opinion based on articles I've read. It's not crackpot, either and neither is it "my crackpot theories". You seem to be taking it personally.

 

[Polymathic]

This is hardly groundbreaking. It's well known for a while that we inherit our ancestors fears etc.

yup

 

[Techne]

I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. It's an opinion based on articles I've read. It's not crackpot, either and neither is it "my crackpot theories". You seem to be taking it personally.

Don't project. At least try to substantiate the view that fears as mental content can be inherited. Otherwise your opinion here is useless and meaningless.

 

[mercurial]

Don't project. At least try to substantiate the view that fears as mental content can be inherited. Otherwise your opinion here is useless and meaningless.

I don't have to substantiate anything. You seem to be struggling to understand this.

 

[Techne]

I don't have to substantiate anything. You seem to be struggling to understand this.

Of course you don't. What you struggle to understand is that your opinion is useless if you don't substantiate it. And you seem to be fine with it and that is ok. Mybroadband is full of useless opinions anyway. One more won't make a difference.

 

[mercurial]

Of course you don't. What you struggle to understand is that your opinion is useless if you don't substantiate it. And you seem to be fine with it. Me too .

I don't want to substantiate is because the information you seek is readily available from a Google search and I really don't feel like debating... but more than that, I can already see you opposing whatever links/evidence I post, because you seem to have made your mind up already and I know you well enough to know that you won't change it.

 

[Techne]

I don't want to substantiate is because the information you seek is readily available from a Google search and I really don't feel like debating... but more than that, I can already see you opposing whatever links/evidence I post, because you seem to have made your mind up already and I know you well enough to know that you won't change it.

Meh, nonsense rhetoric dripping in a personal attack (I was right about you projecting, you took it personally and now you lash out). Allow me to respond in kind... on second thought... nah, waste of time. Come back when you can substantiate the view that fears as mental content can be inherited. As is, it sounds like nonsense.

 

[DA-LION-619]

So it is well known that we inherit our fears from our forefathers? Really? Which fears are you talking about?

Fear of the dark