Epigenetics ... Some Interesting Thoughts
There are numerous methods of describing how traits acquired dynamically during life get transferred to subsequent generations. Here is one idea that has gained some credibility in the scientific and genetics community.
From Wikipedia:
"In biology, and specifically genetics, epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in phenotype (appearance) or gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence, hence the name epi- (Greek: επί- over, above) -genetics. Examples of such changes might be DNA methylation or histone acetylation, both of which serve to suppress gene expression without altering the sequence of the silenced genes.
These changes may remain through cell divisions for the remainder of the cell's life and may also last for multiple generations. However, there is no change in the underlying DNA sequence of the organism;[1] instead, non-genetic factors cause the organism's genes to behave (or "express themselves") differently.[2]
One example of epigenetic changes in eukaryotic biology is the process of cellular differentiation. During morphogenesis, totipotent stem cells become the various pluripotent cell lines of the embryo which in turn become fully differentiated cells. In other words, a single fertilized egg cell – the zygote – changes into the many cell types including neurons, muscle cells, epithelium, blood vessels etc. as it continues to divide. It does so by activating some genes while inhibiting others.[3]:"
In the latest issue of the Dana Brain Forum, authors Isabelle M. Mansuy, Ph.D., and Safa Mohanna state the following:
"Epigenetics provides support for another longstanding unresolved question: the contribution of nature versus nurture. Since epigenetics acts as a conduit through which environmental factors elicit lifelong biological changes, it provides a molecular basis to suggest that nurture has a strong impact on biological functions and behavior, in some cases, perhaps a stronger impact than nature (genes). The concept of epigenetics further offers an explanation for individual differences resulting from life experiences, one of the most striking examples being of identical twins who have exactly the same genotype but different physiological or behavioral responses or disease susceptibility. It substantiates the proposal that both nature and nurture are essential contributors to our selves and our bodies, but that their respective contribution varies."
Coming from a different point of view regarding the base nature of reality those who are mystically inclined may point to other mechanisms at work, and there are a number of individuals within the academic / scientific community (i.e. Fred Alan Wolf, Ervin Laszlo, etc.) who support these alternate perspectives.
What do you think?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Capt. Anand Kumar on
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The other Krishnamurti, as he was popularly known, UG Krishnamurti once startled his audience in 1980's at New Delhi by declaring that Body is immortal. It went against the common belief inspired by the teaching of Krishna contained in the Bhagvad-Gita that the soul is immortal and the body being merely an apparel. The story was narrated to me by a friend.
UG explained that the death of a Human is not the death of his body. As soon as death occurs the principles of cell division and multiplication undergo a change and new forms of micro-organisms begin to form within the same body. Now, he asserted that the most complete form of destruction of this body would be by fire. So, Hindus take a lot of care to ensure that complete body gets consumed by fire and only ashes are left. But even in those ashes are contained the DNA of the departed. One usually disposes the ashes by immersing it into a river. The river water goes to irrigate a field. And the crop will contain that DNA. Another human eating that crop will now have the DNA in his body. And his offspring may be the same body as that was cremated earlier. Or a fish in the river will inherit that DNA and someday someone will eat that fish and get that DNA in his body. And so on. The chain continues.
Verse 2.23 of Bhagvad-Gita explains the immortality of soul by declaring that it can neither be cut by a weapon, nor burnt by fire, nor be immersed in water nor be affected by any air. One wonders if that applies to body too.
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Nagarjuna's cause and effect doctrine ignores temporality. Soviet scientist Nikolai Kozyrev asserted that cause and effect are but a view dependent upon observer's position in time. So, at one point in time some event which could be casue could become effect in another point in time. Both being two sides of the same coin. No better proof of Maya than this.
So, why we have'nt found human DNA inside the ear of the corn. Theosophical doctrine of the evolution of root races proposes that during the 2nd and 3rd root race quie a lot of mixing and matching was experimented with and the human form only stabilized in the fourth root race. Once it stabilized, perhpas ancient scientists wrote a program where this gene will change certain characteristics while inside a corn or inside a fish. But once inside a human it will revert back to its original form. A glimpse of this kind of software can be found in all the current "Plug n Play" devices for our computers. Each devices contains a unique code for that particular device. Once computer detects a device is connected, it sends a query to that device and the device answers sending that code back. Computer then refers to the appropriate driver for that device in its databse and the device begins to play.
That is not to say I agree with UG's view. I simply do not know.
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