Our genes provide the instructions for making proteins in our bodies. But how much of those proteins actually get produced depends on the environment. It's like baking cakes using the same ingredients but getting different results because of variations in oven temperature.
Epigenetics is a field of study that looks at how the environment can affect how our genes are used. It's like a set of switches that can turn genes on or off, controlling their activity. These switches can be influenced by things like stress, diet, and exposure to toxins.
When someone experiences trauma, it can cause changes in these switches, which can affect how genes are expressed. These changes can last a long time and be passed on to future generations. So, even after the traumatic event is over, the effects can be inherited by the next generation. It's as if the trauma leaves a mark on the genetic blueprint that gets passed down.
Researchers are still learning about how exactly this happens, but studies have shown that traumatic experiences can lead to lasting changes in gene expression through these switches. This means that the impact of trauma can go beyond the individual who experienced it and affect their children and even grandchildren.
Overall, epigenetics helps us understand how the environment interacts with our genes, and how these interactions can have long-lasting effects on our health and well-being, even across generations.
Reference
Yehuda, R. (2022, July 1). How Parents’ Trauma Leaves Biological Traces in Children. Diambil kembali dari Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-parents-rsquo-trauma-leaves-biological-traces-in-children/
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