The food you eat may change your genes for life

New Scientist ^ | 17 November 2005 | Alison Motluk

[U S Army EOD]

This has been posted before but I will repeat my reply.

Apparently drinking can change genes, or something like that. I can't really remember what I said, but it was funny. Wonder why I can't remember?

[wildcatf4f3]

bttt

[Celtic Conservative]

"The things you eat may change your genes"

And if you eat too much , you may need to change into larger jeans ; )

CC

[KarinG1]

It's about time I changed mine anyway. The neighbors were starting to crinkle their noses when they saw me coming.

[Ichneumon]

The food you eat may change your genes for life

Before someone jumps to what may seem an obvious conclusion, this *isn't* a validation of Lamarckism -- the "gene changes" they're talking about here are *not* the kind that can be passed on to your offspring.

[mc6809e]

Before someone jumps to what may seem an obvious conclusion, this *isn't* a validation of Lamarckism --

Right.

the "gene changes" they're talking about here are *not* the kind that can be passed on to your offspring.

I think this goes too far, though. It's possible that the methylation or demethylation of a gene causes the release of substances that do the same in offspring while in the womb. These offspring then do the same to their offspring and so on.

[AntiGuv]

FutureTechPing!

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[PatrickHenry]

Archives?

[Smokin' Joe]

I have known a couple of people who lost their jeans while drinking....

[Smokin' Joe]

We stand on the threshold of series behavior modification.

Imagine the 're-education camps' with something like this....YIKE!

[aardvark1]

And if you eat too much , you may need to change into larger jeans

Baby's feeling funny in the mornings, she's having trouble getting into her jeans. --Jackson Browne

[Junior]

Yepper.

[tom paine 2]

bump

[phantomworker]

Before someone jumps to what may seem an obvious conclusion, this *isn't* a validation of Lamarckism -- the "gene changes" they're talking about here are *not* the kind that can be passed on to your offspring.

Are you sure about that? I thought that certain drugs can cause gene mutations or permanently modify certain dna markers which can be passed on to offspring.

[strategofr]

"No one is envisaging injecting supplements into people's brains,"

Wake up and smell the coffee, dude. No one in Western democracies is envisioning such. Russians and Chinese are envisioning exactly this thing.

[strategofr]

Absolutely superb post.

[b_sharp]

"Before someone jumps to what may seem an obvious conclusion, this *isn't* a validation of Lamarckism -- the "gene changes" they're talking about here are *not* the kind that can be passed on to your offspring.

What are you talking about, this is intelligent design Lamarckism...I wonder if they have a pill to help...ummm...certain body parts to grow?...

[b_sharp]

Only if already existing gametes are modified as well.

[neverdem]

Are you sure about that? I thought that certain drugs can cause gene mutations or permanently modify certain dna markers which can be passed on to offspring.

I tried the following on Google:

"genetic mutations caused by drugs"
"drug associated genetic mutations"
"drug induced genetic mutations"

The only result was The Wall Street Journal's War on Cancer, and Google picks up professional articles. You might find this article interesting, but no mention of drug associated genetic mutations, or similar phenomena, was made.

Environmental Causes of Human Congenital Malformations: The Pediatrician’s Role in Dealing With These Complex Clinical Problems Caused by a Multiplicity of Environmental and Genetic Factors