[Xmca-l] Re: Scientists find that memories may be passed through DNA

[Martin John Packer]

I think this is the epigenetic inheritance that we talked about here a couple of years ago, that Marcus Pembrey is associated with. These mice are not inheriting 'memories' from their parents; their parents had experiences, apparently fairly traumatic, that caused changes in their genetic material (though not changing the DNA sequence) which then lead to behavioral changes in the next generation. Important, yes, and arguably ground changing for evolutionary biology. But it doesn't mean that I have a memory for experiences my father had.

Martin

On Jan 5, 2014, at 3:23 PM, Huw Lloyd <huw.softdesigns@gmail.com> wrote:

> The systems dimension that I am exploring in relation to CHAT (genetic
> domains, functional systems) is basically in support of this sort of thing.
> 
> I'd suggest looking at Waddington's papers on his experiments with genetic
> assimilation (assimilation and accommodation are the typical terms) if
> you're interested in "how" this may come about.
> 
> Best,
> Huw
> 
> 
> On 5 January 2014 17:48, Jenna McWilliams <jennamcjenna@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> I wonder if any xmca'ers have thoughts on this interesting piece of
>> research about inheritability of memories. Here's a snippet, with the link
>> to the full article below.
>> 
>> New research from Emory University School of Medicine, in Atlanta, has
>> shown that it is possible for some information to be inherited biologically
>> through chemical changes that occur in DNA. During the tests they learned
>> that that mice can pass on learned information about traumatic or stressful
>> experiences – in this case a fear of the smell of cherry blossom – to
>> subsequent generations.
>> 
>> 
>> http://www.sciencegymnasium.com/2014/01/scientists-have-found-that-memories-may.html
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Jenna McWilliams
>> Cultural-Historical Research SIG Communications Chair
>> Learning Sciences Program, Indiana University
>> 
>> ~
>> jenmcwil@indiana.edu
>> jennamcjenna@gmail.com
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>