The Advocates
Marla Sokolowski, Experience-based Brain and Biological Development, Weston Fellow and Co-Director
Thomas Boyce, Experience-based Brain and Biological Development, Fellow and Co-Director
The Pitch
Recent advances in gene sequencing technology tempt us to look at our bodies in a radically different, more genetic way. Though the scientific value of these advances is clear, the success of genomics may create a false impression – that our genes are the weavers of our fate, the sole determinants of our destiny. There is much about your personal future, though, that a genome scan will never tell.
One thing genomics does not touch is the important role that early life experiences play in physical health and development.These experiences set a trajectory for health and development by changing the neural, endocrine and immunological systems that sustain human life.
One of the mechanisms by which these changes occur is “epigenetics.” Epigenetics is a relatively new field of research that studies how environmental factors affect the way genes behave. It allows us to search the entire human genome for the effects of socioeconomic status, for example, opening doors to understanding how social environments influence children’s health and well-being. Early research results show that children raised in less affluent settings have highly distinctive patterns of gene activation compared to children raised in more affluent settings. In other words, two people with identical DNA can have very different health outcomes because varying environmental factors can turn different genes on and off in each individual.
Adults who were raised in low socioeconomic circumstances show distinct epigenetic patterns. A study of such individuals revealed that certain genes that regulate the stress hormone cortisol were less active and others that are associated with inflammation were more active. The childhood stress of being poor actually shaped how these genes were expressed, even if the person’s situation improved later in life. This result helps to explain how adverse early experiences can lead to a lifelong increase in the risk of certain chronic diseases.
Thanks to advances in genomics, epigenetics and neuroimaging, combined with new non-invasive techniques for measuring physiological changes, studies like these are constantly emerging from the world of advanced research. As these advances transform the way we view health and development, they reveal new and powerful ways to improve human health and well-being. The ultimate result is the creation of healthier and happier societies.
The Bottom Line
“Why is Destiny not in our genes?” is the Next Big Question because it creates an unprecedented opportunity to ensure that future generations are healthy and well-prepared to answer the biggest questions of their time.