Through traumatic experiences and tribulations, our personality and behavior change, as we adapt to prepare ourselves for similar situations of the future. However, is it possible that our DNA changes with each experience as well? Involving the alteration of behavioral genes in response to lifestyle choices, life experiences, and our changing environments, behavioral epigenetics define how nurture shapes nature. More specifically, alterations in one’s genetic code due to environmental factors and their own life choices constitute the foundation of epigenetics. These changes can even be passed down to our offspring and impact their behavior and genetic predispositions. Despite the threat of passing down negative genes to one’s progeny as a result of making unhealthy decisions in life, epigenetics are a true benefit to the human condition and may mean promising results for our future.

There remains a constant battle between “nurture,” and “nature,” the two defining theories as to why one holds the intrinsic values and characteristics that shape a person. The premise of “nurture” states that our environment is solely responsible for who we are, and who we become; we serve as blank canvases for our milieus to create the landscape of our lives. “Nature” serves as the idea that our genes, the biological blueprint that defines how we live our lives, form our character traits entirely. The study of epigenetics, which translates to “above genetics,” proves that both categories take part in defining who we are (Wikenius). Typically in behavior, genetic coding is directly related to genetic expression; depending on certain properties of a given gene, it will either be expressed to some varying degree, or repressed. Compounds made of hydrogen and carbon, known as methyl groups, control genomes by attaching themselves to a specific gene, preventing the expression of that gene. Genetic expression can also be altered by the properties of histones, the proteins that DNA winds itself around. When DNA is wound tightly, genetic expression is limited, whereas when its bonds are looser, the expression is enabled. By removing these methyl groups and placing them elsewhere in their genome, one’s environment can physically alter this genetic expression. In other words, changes in one’s lifestyle can essentially alter their genes. These epigenetic tags on our genomes were thought to be completely stripped off before being passed down to our children, allowing for new epigenetic tags to be created. However, some of these tags get stuck, and thus do pass down to future offspring. Not only can decisions ones make in a lifetime affect his or her genetic code, but they can also affect that of his or her descendants (Green).

The possibility of making choices that pass down potentially undesirable traits to one’s offspring sheds light on a real fear regarding behavioral epigenetics. While this is a reality, epigenetics also show immense promise for the future and already provide benefits for us today. Behavioral learning can only truly happen through DNA methylation and histone modification, as these responses to our experiences formulate methods in dealing with similar situations in the future. Without such changes in behavior, we wouldn’t learn from our experiences, composing a life of redundant inefficiency. Being able to more thoroughly understand the modifications genomes undergo also gives us more insight into the world of genetic modification, such as understanding epigenetic manipulation and reprogramming in order to prevent detrimental diseases and traits. Commenting on behavioral epigenetics, Tabitha Powledge states, “Yet behavioral epigenetics has been held out as promising to elucidate, and perhaps even solve, immense medical troubles, such as mental retardation, autism, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative disorders, and even social challenges, such as aging, addiction, suicide, child abuse, and child neglect” (Powledge 588). Regardless of that the future may look like for epigenetics, deeper understanding of the human condition assures progress at the intersection of nature and nurture.

Sources

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k50yMwEOWGU&feature=share “Epigenetics: Nature vs Nurture” (1)
  • Wikenius, Ellen. “Epigenetics: Nature vs nurture.” Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, 29 Jan. 2016. Web. 11 Jan. 2019.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp1bZEUgqVI&feature=share “Epigenetics” (2)
  • Green, Hank. "Epigenetics." Online video clip. YouTube. SciShow, 22 Jan. 2012. Web. 11 Jan. 2019.
• https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/61/8/588/336969 “Behavioral Epigenetics: how Nurture Shapes Nature” (3)
  • Powledge, Tabitha M. “Behavioral Epigenetics: How Nurture Shapes Nature.” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 1 Aug. 2011, academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/61/8/588/336969.