Epigenetics: Chemicals Turn Genes On and Off at the Wrong Times

Natural News ^ | February 23, 2010 | David Gutierrez

[FReepaholic]

Scientists are increasingly becoming aware of a new mechanism by which pollutants can damage the health of living organisms -- epigenetic changes, in which a chemical changes how a gene is expressed...

...Like mutations, epigenetic effects can be passed on to a person's offspring...

..."There is a huge potential impact from these exposures, partly because the changes may be inherited across generations,"...

[FReepaholic]

Gives another meaning to the Bible's "sins of the father", eh?

Exodus 34:7 "...visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation..."

[IrishCatholic]

That was a very interesting insight. Thank you.

[Ellendra]

Fascinating field of study, but a little too easily misunderstood. Being too afraid of “chemicals” can kill people too :p

[pankot]

There is possibility that this whole “epigenetic” thing may be
based on voodoo science. Take a very close look at it; it smells of Lamarkism.

[Ellendra]

Possibly. But it’s still fascinating.

[FReepaholic]

It could also explain why children of alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics than other children.

http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/children_of_alcoholics