Instead of the differences in the DNA, the inheritance of the changes in the usage of their genes can be a means to pass on the increased span of life from one generation of worms who live long, to the next.

A study shows that even if there are no changes in the overall hereditary constituency of roundworms. They can pass on the characteristic such as an increased lifespan to their offspring via genes.

While it is uncertain if humans can be influenced in a similar manner, it was observed by the study organiser from Stanford University, Anne Brunet, that human lifespan was later found to be affected by the very genes which influenced that of roundworms. She said that in various instances, this species of worms has been a good example for the human species. Humans have a lifespan which is 2,000 times the length the worm.

Whether the process exhibited by the nematode species ‘Caenorhabditis elegans’ applies to species such as rodents and fish, which follow an evolution pattern similar to humans, is currently being examined by Anne’s team. This kind of phenomenon, where offspring inherits only the changes in the usage of the DNA rather than changes in the DNA, itself, is known as ‘Epigenetic Inheritance’. Along with the development of animals, minute marks, the likes of Post-its, highlight their genes and protein constituents, instructing which DNA strands to be replicated without any modifications in the basic structure. With the birth of their offspring, the marks are supposed to change, but some remain constant.

According to Anne Brunet who is from Stanford University, and the lead author of the study says that the concept of epigenetic inheritance plays a significant part in intricate characteristics such as extended lifespan, and also ailments such as Cancer, Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. She says that these conditions are influenced by our genes and also the way we care for ourselves, but the traits and actions of our forefathers are also something which we need to consider.

Processes such as reprogramming cells into stem cells or cloning are highly dependent on retaining and/or eliminating certain of these epigenetic marks could be improvised with the aid of genetic studies. In due course, these marks can even be altered by experts in order to increase lifespan or bring down the possibility of diseases that are hereditary.

The international journal ‘Nature’ published this newest discovery on 19th October 2011. It all started with Brunet’s student Eric Greer and his experiment with nematodes exhibiting changes in the genomic sequence; in one out of three genes; SET-2, WDR-5 and ASH-2. This set of genes dictates the packaging of our DNA. Apparently, it altered our genes from compact structure into a loosely bound form where the sequence could easily be identified.

A disorder in one out of the three genes can cause several strands of genes to clamp together. This makes it difficult to reach several of the genes available and even those responsible for the process of ageing. The result is astounding – a 20 to 30 percent increase in the life span of the worms was experienced with having one of the genes faulty. .

The breeding of these genetically altered worms was carried out by Greer in such a manner that a part of their next generation carried the same pattern of genes. However, in spite of the DNA being normal, the offspring exhibited a longer lifespan. This pattern was repeated thrice. Recently, epigenetic inheritance has been observed in many instances by experts, such as, color of hair in mice, symmetrical flower patterns and many similar things. Brunet, however, said that they did not expect that it could be possible to inherit an intricate characteristic such as increased lifespan by techniques, which were non-genetic.

University of Adelaide’s Professor Emma Whitelaw praised the beauty of the discovery. She said that epigenetic inheritances spanned across multiple generations have many controversial ideas attached to it, and it is not easy to eliminate genetic disparities that are not detected.

However, in the research conducted by Greer, the discontinuation of longevity trend after three generations suggests that it is unlikely that DNA changes are involved. Whitelaw said that these developments will encourage scientists to explore the idea in a more serious manner.

The concept of epigenetic inheritance is frequently viewed as a revolutionary step in the history of evolution. It appears to take us back to Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, whose opinions were disregarded as incorrect, when he put forth the idea that parental characteristics could be inherited by the offspring.

Brunet said that, owing to the newly found facts that change in genes can be transmitted the next three immediate generations, people finally have understood that genes don’t dictate everything. However, this does not imply that Lamarck’s views were correct; it is now clear that some characteristics are influenced by epigenetic impressions.

Leiden University Medical Center’s Dr. Bas Heijmans emphasized on the fact that modern understanding of evolution is by no way contradicted by epigenetic inheritance. If it improves the success rate of an organism in passing forth its genes, then it will be allowed to evolve by natural selection – Darwinian fitness.

By alerting the forthcoming generation before time, of the issues being faced by the present lot of organisms, epigenetic inheritance could present them with a temporary benefit. For instance, in case of famine, passing the information ahead could prove beneficial, said Brunet.

It is impossible to estimate the implications of this in the long run. The discontinuation of the extended lifespan of the worms bred by Greer after three generations is similar to most of the other instances of epigenetic inheritance. The species are not likely to endure a permanent impact. Brunet said that this phenomenon is not a permanently evolving thing.

Related articles:
1. Stress a Natural Phenomenon, which is passed on to Future Generations through Epigenetic
2. We Can Be In Charge Of Our Genes
3. Epigenomic Changes in DNA methylation and Histone Actylation
4. Programmed Epigenomic Changes

Source: Guardian

Anti Aging, Gerontology, Longevity, Stem cells

ecoAmerica Director Richard Louv coined the term “nature-defecit disorder” — the trend of children spending less time outdoors and negative effects emotionally and physically that causes. In this article, Dr. Andrew Weil branches from this thinking and hypothesizes that the reason why Americans are more depressed today is because behaviors and actions that developed from technological advances broke humans from more instinctual behavior, and as much as we may think we have adapted, our bodies’ chemistry did not fully evolve and is resisting the change.
 
Read the full article from The Daily Beast below.
 
Andrew Weil’s Spontaneous Happiness: Our Nature-Deficit Disorder

You aren’t depressed; our brains just aren’t equipped for 21st-century life.

by Andrew Weil

 
In my experience, the more people have, the less likely they are to be contented. Indeed, there is abundant evidence that depression is a “disease of affluence,” a disorder of modern life in the industrialized world. People who live in poorer countries have a lower risk of depression than those in industrialized nations. In general, countries with lifestyles that are furthest removed from modern standards have the lowest rates of depression.
 
Within the U.S., the rate of depression of members of the Old Order Amish—a religious sect that shuns modernity in favor of lifestyles roughly emulating those of rural Americans a century ago—is as low as one 10th that of other Americans.
 
Psychologist Martin Seligman, originator of the field of positive psychology and director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, has studied the Old Order Amish, along with other premodern cultures. He concludes: “Putting this together, there seems to be something about modern life that creates fertile soil for depression.”
 
Another prominent researcher whose work I respect, Stephen Ilardi, professor of psychology at the University of Kansas and author of The Depression Cure, observes, “The more ‘modern’ a society’s way of life, the higher its rate of depression. It may seem baffling, but the explanation is simple: the human body was never designed for the modern postindustrial environment.”
 

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