1. Classic genetics and evolution says that a pool of genes mixes, and that only the best in a given environmental context succeed in passing themselves on to the next generation. The rest dies, so to speak, and gets forgotten. (Of course this all happens very gradually over generations.)
Genetic change occurs through random mutations; those mutants that happen to be best adapted, survive, the rest gradually goes out of history.
The "environment" only sets the broad contours of the context in which the notions of "genetic fitness" and "success" are at work.
2. Epigenetics is different; it says that certain "events" (like 9/11, a famine, or the holocaust) leave an imprint of information onto genes; the event triggers a mechanism which activates certain genes and de-activates others. In short, genes can embed the memory of an event, and pass it on to next generations.
>evidence of the reality of epigenetics is becoming stronger: research shows that the children of holocaust survivors have stress levels just as high as their parents; until now this was explained through "nurture": these children supposedly had to listen to stories about the horrible event, and so became stressed themselves; or some subconscious psychological dynamic passed the stress down to them.
But the epigeneticists found that there was more at play than mere nurture; in fact, the grandchildren of holocaust survivors also showed increased levels of stress, even those who were brought up in a parental environment where there was no psychological influence referring to this event; in short, the stress resulting from this one event, was passed on over the generations, even beyond the mere first generation, through the genes.
>the definite evidence came from research in Sweden where an environmental effect was found that was being passed down the generations. The research showed that a famine at critical times in the lives of the grandparents can affect the life expectancy of the grandchildren. This is the first evidence that an environmental effect can be inherited in humans.
>9/11 babies are being monitored and some see evidence of them carrying the memory of the event in their genes.
Now just imagine what the consequences are for us, knowing that Peak Oil will arrive soon. We can plan for this event. We can decide to make babies now, before we actually experience the super-stress that goes with seeing our societies collapse, and that goes with the thought of having to give up our SUV, etc...
We should all start procreating frenetically, right now, before it is too late!! If we don't, our post-peak babies and even our grandchildren will carry the memory of the disastrous event in their genes, and they might be all messed up, jeopardizing the future of our strong genes!
We might experience Peak Oil and get depressed, but that doesn't mean that our grandchildren's genes have to carry this mess with them. So let's do it, right now!!
[I am going to use the epigenetic argument in my quest to find a mating partner. I'm sure it will make a big impression.
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