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Epigenetic Influences In Early Life

Decent Essays

Every human being possesses their own unique genetic code, called DNA. A person’s individual DNA structure is something that they are born with and will remain constant and unchanging throughout their lifetime. DNA is passed down from each of our parents, and is combined to form our own personal, specific inherited genetic information. This makes it seem like that every characteristic (physical and mental) a person possesses is in direct result of inheritance, unchangeable and unyielding. This is not the case, however. Epigenetics are different factors/circumstances/experiences that play a major role in influencing a person’s gene expression without actually changing their DNA/genetic code. A gene that exists in a person’s genotype is …show more content…

The different events and social behaviors that different animals were exposed to in infancy effected their physiology and behavior and those effects were far reaching and long lasting, following them for the rest of their lives. Experiences and environmental factors cause epigenetic changes to genes, but the influence is even further reaching that that. Epigenetic influences even occur in utero, the mother passes on more than her genetic material. The fetus’s epigenetics are influenced by the experiences of the mother during pregnancy, things like the mother’s diet and stress levels can influence her offspring later in life. We are all born into different circumstances and situations. Location and socioeconomic status vary greatly among the human population. The influence that epigenetic factors have on how our genes are expressed can be helpful to aide in how we navigate our own lives in relation to the specific set of circumstances we are born into. The way our genes are influenced by out mother (during pregnancy) can aid us in adapting to the specific “world” we are born

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