06/23/2024
Interesting story about ‘epigenetics’ just recently- In some ways this is not a new idea-about 10 years ago there was a “beautiful study” where mice who love cherries were trained to associate the smell of cherries with pain (electrical shock). Their offspring-children and grandchildren were also fearful of cherries even though they did not experience any pain. (but not a great study if you were the mouse!)
Interestingly, some of the mice were raised by "foster parents", so that parents would eat cherries, but the offspring of those who had the electrical shock avoided them. The most recent study took that same model where they trained generation 1 to avoid cherries-but then they retrained/reconditioned those mice to eat/enjoy cherries. Their offspring “unto the second and third generation” would eat cherries with no problem.
People think genetics are things that are hardwired but the body is so profoundly complex.
The experiences (good, bad or "sideways") of our grandparents affected our parents, affect us and can affect our children- and probably our children’s children.
Reference:
The science of epigenetics suggests we can pass on trauma – but trust and compassion too
