Scientists are discovering that chronic stress can alter gene expression, and consequently "stress", or our body’s response to it, can be passed down through generations as an unwanted legacy from our predecessors.
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A startling new study has answered a huge question: do our life experiences enter our genetic code? The incredible answer is, ‘yes.’ Your likes, dislikes and prejudices–you may think they originated with your own life experiences, but most of them came from your ancestors, via your GENES. Life experiences not only affect your genes, your mother’s genes, and your grandmother’s genes, etc. While you may fee like a unique individual, the fact is that your peronality is largely gift your long line of maternal ancestors (stretching all he way back to the FIRST female homo sapien, who may have been "Lucy?")
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Does this explain the kind of thing that went on at Columbine?
A recent study suggests that bullying by peers changes the structure surrounding a gene involved in regulating mood, making victims more vulnerable to mental health problems as they age. Researcher Isabelle Ouellet-Morin says, "Many people think that our genes are immutable; however this study suggests that environment, even the social environment, can affect their functioning. This is particularly the case for victimization experiences in childhood, which change not only our stress response but also the functioning of genes involved in mood regulation."
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