{"id":169,"date":"2011-09-28T13:30:11","date_gmt":"2011-09-28T13:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/?page_id=169"},"modified":"2025-06-12T00:09:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T00:09:57","slug":"bd-2-1-epigenetics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/bd-2-1-epigenetics\/","title":{"rendered":"BD 2.1 Genes and environments"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-2175\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/files\/2011\/09\/AKDN-AmitPasricha-breastFeeding22367.jpg\" alt=\"Mother breastfeeding infant\" class=\"wp-image-2175\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">AKDN\/Amit Pasricha<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>From conception on, development is shaped by a melding of&nbsp;genetics and&nbsp;experience &#8211; the child is affected by other individuals, available resources and opportunities, and cultural patterns. Because each child is different, children who experience similar environments can have very different outcomes. In turn, children themselves affect their environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As discussed in the first section of this module, the nature vs. nature debate is obsolete. Our genetic inheritance is shaped by our experiences &#8211; from conception on. Even identical twins, who are genetically exactly the same, have differences. These are shaped by their environments, prenatally and throughout life. In the following video, you will meet&nbsp;identical twins, Brooke and Leah, who tend to approach life in different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail-1KO6tV wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"video-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/files\/2022\/06\/185980970.jpg\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Identical? (1:51)<\/span>      \n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: auto;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\"><iframe frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/185980970?api=1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The next reading is also on page 1.1 of this module. You may find it helpful to refer to it again as you consider the information on this page.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-Z29kS0s wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/secd-files.s3.amazonaws.com\/pdfs\/BasicsOfGenetics.pdf?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&amp;X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JEJM3JRLSOOGYBG%2F20260501%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20260501T031030Z&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Expires=1000&amp;X-Amz-Signature=8f9785f7e88583efab765722b4b755da2dcdcc4800bb1109b476bc1b3908b1c4\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ PDF<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Basics of genetics<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>In the following video, Dr. Charles Nelson, professor of Pediatrics and Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School, explains how biology (genes\/nature) and experiences (environments\/nurture) work together to affect development.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-1MbEjz wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Nelson \u2013 how experience and biology interact (1:50)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/287120925?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gene by environment interaction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Marla Sokolowski, professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto, adds to this discussion of how genes and environment interact by explaining that individuals with different alleles (gene forms) can have different sensitivity to the same environment. She also reminds us to consider positive environmental conditions that promote healthy development rather than to focus on negative early experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-Z2bigNo wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Sokolowski &#8211; gene by environment interaction (2:22)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90200656?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Gene by environment interaction&nbsp;can be&nbsp;defined&nbsp;as different effects of <strong>environmental\/ experiential<\/strong>&nbsp;exposure in people with different genotypes or, alternatively, a different genotype effect in those with varying&nbsp;<strong>experiential exposures<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah provides a thorough review of genes, DNA, chromosomes and heredity. There is also an explanation of how a person\u2019s genes and environment interact to affect the expression of traits.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-explore-Z2f2hfO wp-block-lazyblock-explore\"><div class=\"explore context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/learn.genetics.utah.edu\/content\/basics\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">EXPLORE<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Basic genetics<\/span>\n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Epigenetics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As we first saw on p. 1.1 in this module, research on epigenetics has made us rethink the relationship between our biological systems and the environment around us and has shown that experience really does get &#8220;under the skin&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new field of epigenetics looks at how environments and experiences can affect the expression of a person&#8217;s genes. Hertzman and Boyce explain that &#8220;environmental signals may cause long-term changes in gene expression through modifying DNA or associated proteins, but not DNA sequence variation&#8221; (2010, p. 341).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The following reading from the <em>Encyclopedia for Early Childhood Development<\/em> provides an overview of the topic of epigenetics.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-ZduDQX wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.child-encyclopedia.com\/pdf\/synthese\/epigenetics\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Epigenetics: Synthesis<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Dr. Meaghan Jones, assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics at the University of Manitoba, explains that epigenetics relates to the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) &#8211; that what happens prenatally has implications for lifelong health (see the next page for more information on DOHaD). She uses a prism model to explain epigenetics and describes how she came up with this model.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-Z23Obrr wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Jones \u2013 prism model (3:32)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/295825052?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>In the next video, Jones explains research done with mice to look at how changes to the maternal mouse diet can result in epigenetic changes in the offspring.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-2dEXne wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Jones \u2013 prism model example (1:57)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/295825014?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-further-full-1fmV2M wp-block-lazyblock-further-full\"><div class=\"further-full\">\n<div class=\"wtkm\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Meaghan Jones and her colleagues use cutting-edge epigenetic tools to investigate environmental exposures in the prenatal and early childhood periods.&nbsp;Learn more by exploring the &nbsp;Jones lab at the University of Manitoba.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-explore-Z16oqnT wp-block-lazyblock-explore\"><div class=\"explore context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.joneslaboratory.ca\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">EXPLORE<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Jones lab<\/span>\n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>At the top of this page, we considered twins Brooke and Leah who, while genetically identical, exhibit different behaviours. Listen now as Dr. Skinner, professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University, discusses how epigenetics explains the differences between identical twins. This helps us understand that epigenetic changes happen after birth, as well as prenatally.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-2h7DSj wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Skinner \u2013 epigenetics and twins (1:34)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/305834626?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>In the next two videos, Dr. Michael Kobor, professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia and Canada Research Chair in Social Epigenetics, explains the lasting effects of epigenetic changes in childhood and some examples of new research being done in this area. Kobor&#8217;s explanation of epigenetics helps explain why experiences in the early years have such a &#8220;long reach&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-2sx47w wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Kobor &#8211; early life epigenetics explained (2:29)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/125617096?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-Z1ekJtF wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Kobor &#8211; epigenetics examples in the early years (2:19)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/125617097?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-ZHYaao wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p>Kobor describes emerging research on the negative influence of growing up in a low socioeconomic status environment and the potential for maternal warmth to act as a buffer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How does his&nbsp;explanation of epigenetics (&#8220;dimmer switches&#8221;) help you&nbsp;understand the impact of these early life conditions&nbsp;on later health and well-being?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do you think might account for the ways that mothers&#8217; and fathers&#8217; stress impacts children differently in different periods of childhood?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sokolowski summarizes the difference between gene by environment interaction (which she explains in her earlier video on this page) and epigenetics. She also reminds us that research in these areas is very new and there are still many questions to be explored.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-Z1aJQ3g wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Sokolowski &#8211; research (2:57)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90200705?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-further-full-ZpCQDk wp-block-lazyblock-further-full\"><div class=\"further-full\">\n<div class=\"wtkm\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n\n\n<p>There are several different biological mechanisms that lead to epigenetic changes to affect the expression of a gene. Using the dimmer switch analogy, Sokolowski explains the mechanisms that researchers are now studying.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-Z1RiRGC wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Sokolowski \u2013 biological mechanisms of epigenetics (7:25)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/305834698?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>In the next reading, from the <em>Encyclopedia for Early Childhood Development<\/em>, Sokolowski and Boyce describe recent research results on the epigenetic processes:&nbsp;DNA methylation, histone modification and ncRNAs. They also address research gaps, challenges and implications for future applications.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-inkVd wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.child-encyclopedia.com\/epigenetics\/according-experts\/biology-epigenome\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Biology of the Epigenome<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The next reading is from the <em>Bulletin on Early Childhood Development<\/em> (2015). It is a brief description of research by Michael Kobor and Joanna Holbrook that looks at individual&nbsp;susceptibility&nbsp;to epigenetic changes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-1DMHLf wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.child-encyclopedia.com\/sites\/default\/files\/docs\/bulletins\/page10bulletinvol12no1dec15en.pdf\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ PDF<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Epigenetics and the underpinnings of vulnerability<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>A very new research area related to epigenetics is whether epigenetic changes are passed from one generation to another (and beyond). Dr. Moshe Szyf, founding co-director of the Sackler Institute for Epigenetics and Psychobiology at McGill, describes some early work being done on this question.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-21jTfj wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Szyf &#8211; intergenerational epigenetic changes-two mechanisms (1:48)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/125494293?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-11ogat wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Szyf- intergenerational epigenetic changes-epidemiological evidence (1:42)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/125494292?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Skinner explains how a serendipitous event in his lab first led researchers to investigate transgenerational inheritance \u2013 that epigenetic changes in sperm and egg cells could be transferred to subsequent generations, a non-genetic type of inheritance.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-Z2vlD5N wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Skinner \u2013 epigenetic transgenerational inheritance (7:14)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/305834482?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-further-full-1Sj2HT wp-block-lazyblock-further-full\"><div class=\"further-full\">\n<div class=\"wtkm\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The following University of Utah website presents some of the latest research in epigenetics.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-explore-fei46 wp-block-lazyblock-explore\"><div class=\"explore context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/learn.genetics.utah.edu\/content\/epigenetics\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">EXPLORE<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Genetics: University of Utah<\/span>\n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>While this research may underscore the importance of early brain development, it is important to understand that gene by environment interactions and epigenetic effects go beyond early childhood and, in fact, continue throughout life. Furthermore, we now understand that some individuals\u2019 genomes are more vulnerable to epigenetic changes in response to the environment and experiences than others. This finding helps explain why only a fraction of people develop post-traumatic stress disorder with the same lived experience, or why some long-term smokers develop cancer while others do not.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-further-full-XPSWY wp-block-lazyblock-further-full\"><div class=\"further-full\">\n<div class=\"wtkm\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n\n\n<p>For more information, see this paper from the Center on the Developing Child.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-Zx96Qs wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/developingchild.harvard.edu\/resources\/early-experiences-can-alter-gene-expression-and-affect-long-term-development\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Working Paper No 10: Early experiences can alter gene expression and affect long-term development<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n<p><\/p><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From conception on, development is shaped by a melding of&nbsp;genetics and&nbsp;experience &#8211; the child is affected by other individuals, available resources and opportunities, and cultural patterns. Because each child is different, children who experience similar environments can have very different outcomes. In turn, children themselves affect their environments. As discussed in the first section of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-169","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=169"}],"version-history":[{"count":106,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11102,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/169\/revisions\/11102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/akdn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}