[_ Old Earth _] In vivo "mutations" - or - "What On Your Genes"

[Rhea]

This happens to be a front page article at Science News this week:

"For Kids, What's on Your Genes"

These two mice are genetically identical and exactly the same age. Each mouse’s mother received a different, specialized diet, which switched on or off chemical clusters called methyl groups that reside near genes. Flipping these genetic switches created differences in size, fur color and health in the otherwise identical offspring.

Full article

How can your physiology change dramatically when you haven't even had a genetic mutation?

How can your father's BEHAVIOR affect your GENETIC EXPRESSION?

 

[Rhea]

NO comment from asyncritus on the demonstration that characteristics in children can change based on the BEHAVIOR of the parent? It's pretty cool stuff, here.

 

[abrown9]

This is the neat thing about science: we are consistently learning new things. Epigenetics is huge right now. Epigenetics (literally "above genetics") studies the control of gene expression by environmental factors. It's amazing how much more plastic our genome is than the original thought behind central dogma theory.