Stress can be transmitted through the genes?

New research shows that stress can be transmitted from eggs and sperm silently to the next generation.

Thanks to the scanning of DNA in eggs and sperm of mice, the researchers found external factors such as smoking, dieting, starvation, mental illness and fluctuating childhood that can be passed on to descendants. then through a process called epigenetic inheritance.

However, many geneticists have argued that this is impossible.

According to previous studies, the gene can be deleted through a process of DNA methylation, in which enzymes react to environmental factors by re-marking metylated genes and preventing these genes from continuing. dynamic.

Therefore, scientists believe that when the egg and sperm grow, any imprint in the life that affects the gene will be erased and cannot be transmitted to later generations during fertilization.

A group of researchers led by Jamie Hackett from the University of Cambridge questioned the accuracy of previous studies.

Jamie's team took DNA from the original mouse stem cells at various stages - the precursor to the egg and sperm, marked as a gene with a methylation reaction.

They found that a small number of metylated gene regions, an average of 2,300 of the 25,000 tested cells were not erased and could survive.

However, research has clearly shown the factors in life processes that can be transmitted from generation to generation.

'What we found proved some of the typical traits can be inherited, while before that, everything was considered to be completely erased , ' Science newspaper quoted Jamie.