Epigenetics Shows That Life Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression Across Generations
Biology

Epigenetics Shows That Life Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression Across Generations

Epigenetics studies heritable changes in gene activity that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence itself. Methyl groups or proteins can attach to DNA and switch genes on or off. Studies on Dutch famine survivors (1944–45) found that their children and grandchildren showed altered metabolism and increased disease risk — showing that starvation changed gene expression patterns passed down across generations. This challenges the traditional view that only DNA sequence is inherited.

Source

Heijmans, B.T. et al. (2008). Persistent epigenetic differences associated with prenatal exposure to famine. PNAS.

Details

Published
April 21, 2026
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23
BiologyGeneticsEpigeneticsEvolution

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