The findings challenge the popular assumption that DNA is largely immutable, remaining basically unchanged throughout a persons life. But what does change, according to the research, is how one critical gene known to be involved in regulating mood is crippled, leaving the victim unable to deal with the stress The work is part of a growing body of research on epigenetics, a relatively new field that has challenged many beliefs on genetics. That work shows that while genes themselves may remain largely unchanged, the way they are expressed -- or what genes do for a living -- can be profoundly influenced by the environments in which we live. Researchers found that the level of cortisol, the so-called stress hormone, was suppressed in children who had been bullied. That reduction, she said, resulted in a change in the structure surrounding a gene that regulates serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation and depression. abcnews.go/Technology/bullying-change-victims-dna-crippling-gene-regulates-mood/story?id=18027365
Posted on: Fri, 16 May 2014 23:13:45 +0000
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