Epigenetics: Can we change our genes? - BBC World Service

How can identical twins with identical genomes acquire different characteristics over their lifetimes?

It’s do with epigenetics. Scientists have discovered that our body has an incredible ability to turn on or off parts of its genome according to our habits, our experiences, and the environment in which we live.

00:00 Introduction
00:32 How genetics can change in twins
00:57 Epigenetics
02:32 How embryos get genetic information
03:38 Can trauma be passed down through our genes?
04:34 Reprogramming our genes

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[Sun.Sand.Sea.]

Just reading a book now about passing trauma on through genes titled “It didn’t start with you” by Mark Wolynn. Fascinating read.

[dennis-qubs]

I feel humanity is at a major turning point in evolution.

[loml_loml]

i was literally thinking on the same line that ‘Can stress, depression or trauma be hereditary or genetic’ like can it pass on to generations and then you dropped this video 🤯

[vectorfox]

Memories (including trauma) can indeed pass through our genes. This is why it is crucial to create good memories and mitigate bad decisions.

[justayoutuber]

There are interesting studies on grandparents that went through famines and how that affects grandchildren in gaining weight.

[JasonLee-prsx]

It shows us that our fate is not pre-determined by our genes. On the contrary, we can change our fate through environment and our own efforts.

[manasvikulkarni]

My professor talked about this in class. This is the reason children of alcoholics are more prone to alcoholism. They carry the gene from their parents and if they're reared in an environment with their alcoholic and abusive parents, the gene carrying the alcoholic message is turned on. Partly because they are unable to deal with the negetive emotions of the abuse and want to escape it and alcohol seems to be the preferred substance to use. On the contrary if they carry the same gene but if are reared in a happy and supportive environment it is less likely that the gene will turn on.

[Fayey]

Epigenetics interested me a lot way back under my undergraduate studies. That was 2013. It was starting to roll out and I had so much belief that it holds a lot of answers to our health. Fast forward 2024, now we have the mechanisms of epigenomes and they had replicated studies already. This is a good mark for humanity. From this, I believe, psychotherapy would also work hand in hand with epigenetics.

[ABULBASHAR-oumm]

environment or other strong factor can change epigenetics. So epigenetics can't change gene permanently but can change genes expression! And it can be restored!

[kingoswav]

Interesting studies. In South Africa, we suffer from trauma, it makes sense now why some people act out or are depressed or alcoholics

[ConniePretula]

Dr Bruce Lipton wrote about Epigenetics in 2005 in his book titled Biology of Belief. It’s good to see this is becoming more mainstream but it is not new. It is a very good read and worth the time.
My concern was the moment “drugs” were mentioned. I would highly recommend reading Dr Lipton book to learn more about epigenetics, he was considered a heretic geneticist in his day.

[tlynn]

FYI - Bessel Vander Kolk and Gabor Matte' have spent their careers studying and talking about the body remembering trauma and it being passed on to subsequent generations.

[whatsamatteryou]

I immediately thought about my intense fear of fire as a child. I still am very cautious of it. I found out as a teen that my late grandfather’s house burned down when he was young. Makes me wonder…

[ivonathebona]

"In a survey conducted in 2020, half of children in Gaza already had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of traumatic events such as witnessing shelling, having their homes destroyed, or being physically injured. Given the shocking death toll and exposure to violence since October 2023, these figures are likely to be far higher now (Ahmed, 2021). UNICEF reports that at least 17, 000 children in Gaza are unaccompanied or separated from their parents, and Save The Children report that more than ten children a day had lost a limb over the course of three months."

[SeanMoore]

Good segment but a few slight inaccuracies should be cleared up.


The gene is not turned off or on… The gene is either read or not read, edited or not edited. The choice of words is very important for a clearer understanding of the processes involved.

[DeKKH]

I’ve been saying that I’ve noticed over my life that women who are pregnant and happy have happy babies. Whereas, women who are stressed out or unhappy, have stressed out babies that cry a lot. I noticed this based off my babysitting of people’s kids.

[freespiritable]

Our innate fears are traumas passed down. We fear snakes despite never having had an encounter.

[PneumaNoose]

I’ve always known this. This is why I get so mad when people say, “you were never a slave! Get over it!” Well, my great grandparents were, and I saw that trauma in my father clear as day (my father was born in 1929 and had me when he was 56).

I knew since I was 4 years old when I held a baby for the first time that I would never become a mother. I refused to pass on my crap to an innocent life. Generational trauma has been scientifically proven with mice and I encourage everyone to look that up. I think even PBS did a documentary on it. Absolutely fascinating stuff.

[cookieDaXapper]

“the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation” VERY eye opening.

[Vik-]

Would like a detailed video on this. Bring next part soon. Interesting.