Monday, March 13, 2006
Genetics, Behavior and Environment
globeandmail.com : Code 2
The story above is immensely important for helping us understand the inter-relationship between our genes, our behavior, and our environment. Epigenetics, or the study of the interaction between nature and nurture, is starting to show that genes show up in just about everything but that we have some control over pulling the switches.
I'm always concerned about providing my daughters with a great environment for learning. I figure I did the best I could for them genetically by marrying the woman I did, but there's still a responsibility I hold for making sure it sticks. This article points out that it's important to provide cues that they will notice physically, as this may get their genes to "adapt" to the environment I live in. Maybe when they notice me eating a plate full of vegetables, they adapt to desire them to fit in better with their family. (My daughters do eat more vegetables than any other kids I've seen, and I'm happy to take at least partial responsibility!)
What's more, these switches may be turned on for life.
We have more evidence, then, that it's what we do, not what we say that counts. If a kid is used to breathing second hand smoke, that may influence flipping a genetic switch to desire and accept that into their environment later. Digg This!
The story above is immensely important for helping us understand the inter-relationship between our genes, our behavior, and our environment. Epigenetics, or the study of the interaction between nature and nurture, is starting to show that genes show up in just about everything but that we have some control over pulling the switches.
I'm always concerned about providing my daughters with a great environment for learning. I figure I did the best I could for them genetically by marrying the woman I did, but there's still a responsibility I hold for making sure it sticks. This article points out that it's important to provide cues that they will notice physically, as this may get their genes to "adapt" to the environment I live in. Maybe when they notice me eating a plate full of vegetables, they adapt to desire them to fit in better with their family. (My daughters do eat more vegetables than any other kids I've seen, and I'm happy to take at least partial responsibility!)
What's more, these switches may be turned on for life.
We have more evidence, then, that it's what we do, not what we say that counts. If a kid is used to breathing second hand smoke, that may influence flipping a genetic switch to desire and accept that into their environment later. Digg This!
