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#epigenetics

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#trauma #epigenetics

"In humans, early-life conditions similarly shape development. A child raised in an unsafe setting may develop heightened vigilance or stress sensitivity – traits that help in danger but can persist as anxiety or chronic stress in times of safety. This is known as environmental mismatch.

Across generations, plasticity becomes more complicated.

(. . .)

Epigenetics often reflect environmental exposures – such as stress, trauma, nutrition or caregiving. But they’re not necessarily permanent 'scars'. Many are dynamic and can shift with changing environments – especially early in life.

Studies show that epigenetic patterns linked to early childhood adversity vary depending on later environments such as family stability and social support. This suggests the biological imprint of early stress is shaped by what happens next.

It’s tempting to treat epigenetics as the key to explaining inherited trauma – but that’s too narrow. Trauma can influence the next generation through altered hormones, immune function or in utero conditions – all of which shape brain development and stress reactivity.

Genetic variation also plays a major role. It doesn’t encode trauma itself, but it shapes traits such as sensitivity to threat or emotional regulation. These traits aren’t chosen – they arise from a web of biological and social influences beyond our control.

But how they unfold, and whether they’re amplified or softened, depends on the systems that surround us.

Connection to culture plays an important role too.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori-led initiatives that centre land, language and whakapapa (ancestral lineage) have shown promise in restoring wellbeing after generations of colonisation-related trauma.

For Holocaust survivors and descendants, connection to cultural identity through ritual and shared narrative can reduce the psychological burden of transmitted trauma.

But not all trauma is collective or institutional. Interventions such as trauma-informed parenting and early relational therapies have been shown to improve outcomes in the next generation.

These psychological supports affect biology. Feeling safe in our relationships, having stable routines and a sense of meaning can reduce stress hormones, modulate immune function, and buffer against long-term disease risk.

In this way, culture, caregiving and connection are all biological interventions. When they soften the effects of earlier stress, they may help interrupt its transmission."

theconversation.com/trauma-is-

The ConversationTrauma is carried in your DNA. But science reveals a more complicated storyWhile trauma can ripple across generations, its effects aren’t hard-coded in our genes.

Tabaco y efectos en la fertilidad masculina. Esta revisión analiza el efecto en la descendencia a través de la alteración de marcas epigenéticas en el espermatozoide.
spandidos-publications.com/10.
#bianorbiotech #smoking #MaleFertility #epigenetics #offspring

www.spandidos-publications.comSmoke signals in the genome: Epigenetic consequences of parental tobacco exposure (Review)Tobacco use continues to pose a significant public health challenge, not only due to its immediate toxic effects but also because of its long‑lasting epigenetic consequences. The present review explores the complex and evolving field of epigenetics to examine how maternal, paternal and even grandparental smoking can alter the heritable regulation of gene expression, with consequences that span multiple generations. The focus is placed on DNA methylation as a central mechanism mediating these effects, particularly in the placenta and germ cells. Evidence from human cohort studies and animal models highlights that <em>in utero</em> exposure to cigarette smoke results in epigenetic reprogramming of fetal tissues, which can influence susceptibility to metabolic, respiratory and neurodevelopmental disorders throughout life. Moreover, paternal smoking, even before conception, has been linked to changes in sperm epigenetic markers, which may be transmitted to the offspring and disrupt developmental processes. These effects are not limited to the directly exposed generation; transgenerational inheritance of epigenetic marks has been documented, with grandmaternal smoking increasing the risk of asthma and reduced lung function in grandchildren. The review also discusses emerging strategies to mitigate these effects, such as maternal supplementation with folate and antioxidants, smoking cessation campaigns targeting prospective parents and public health policies informed by epigenetic science. The findings underscore the need to view tobacco exposure not merely as a personal behavior but as a modifiable risk factor with marked biological implications across generations. Understanding the epigenetic mechanisms underlying these outcomes is critical for shaping prevention strategies, guiding public health policy and informing ethical discourse on intergenerational health responsibility.
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Hello
@MarkHoltom

“”We’ve got ours, pull up the gangplank #gangplankmentality

On a related note - -

@ MrSlanderer
{1 month ago:

Fun fact: Wild pigs that are introduced to a domesticated herd become tame within a couple weeks, whereas domesticated pigs that escape and join feral herds, become feral within a couple weeks, including developing oversized incisors
¿\youtube.com/watch?v=41PVbvsx6ps #BeyondFraming

#PlanetBee🌍🌏🌎🐝
oocities.org/etearthmission/BS #rise⚛️

#Epigenetics
#UAP