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Intergenerational trauma in africa4/22/2024 ![]() ![]() This provides evidence to the growing field of epigenetics that trauma is, in fact, inheritable through epigenetic modifications.Įnslavement and Its Biological Impact on African American Communities A 2013 study done on mice in labs demonstrated that when a parent is taught to fear a certain scent, their offspring, without any prior exposure to their parent’s stressor, also intrinsically fears that scent. ![]() However, new discoveries in the field of epigenetics are beginning to suggest that not only do survivors experience psychological issues, but their offspring are affected by parental trauma exposures occurring before their birth, and possibly even prior to their conception. Survivors of atrocities and trauma have been shown to experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders. Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash The direct cause for this difference is unknown, but it can possibly be attributed to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or subtle variations in each person’s genome. Epigenetic modifications can result from old age, diseases, or environmental factors.Įnvironmental factors include external stressors or traumatic experiences, which may result in genetic responses that either put one at a higher risk for developing disorders or make one more resilient to stressors. ![]() This, in turn, effects the genes expressed without changing any specific gene sequences– a change in phenotype without a change in genotype. ![]() Series of DNA methylations affect the ways in which genes can be transcribed and translated from the genome, rendering certain parts of the genome readable while others are unreadable.ĭNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism in which a methyl group (-CH 3) is covalently added to the 5-carbon on a cytosine ring in a DNA sequence. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression without alterations to DNA sequences. What do you think? Record a video comment or leave your thoughts in the comments below.Photo by Guillaume Issaly on Unsplash (rights-free)Ī developing field of biological study, epigenetics, has begun to shed light on the effect of trauma on the human genome. Indigenous suicide shows our traumatic past is just too heavy a burden – The Guardian Kevin Mitchell, Prof in Developmental Neuroscience & Genetics, Trinity College Dublin tcd.ieĭiversity Equity and Inclusion Consultant Ĭan we really inherit trauma? The New York Times On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:Ĭatherine Chamberlain, Investigator, Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future ĭr. In the second programme of our series on colonialism, we’ll look at the study of epigenetics, the debate around it and how – or whether – generational healing is possible for colonised populations. But, as the debate continues, a movement is developing focused on healing intergenerational traumas and breaking the cycle. There are critics, though, who say the science is not solid and that the evidence is anecdotal, at best. Since then, it has been widely studied in the descendants of Aboriginal groups in Australia and in First Nations Tribes in Canada who have experienced years of colonisation, upheaval and trauma.Ĭommon symptoms include poor health, fear and anxiety, substance abuse, violence and suicide. The phenomenon was first studied by scientists who discovered that children who were exposed to the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944 – 1945 later showed differences in health to the general population, including higher than average body mass. The growing study of epigenetics has found that the experiences of those who went before, such as trauma, can leave a mark on your genes. Can the pain our ancestors lived through be inherited? Some researchers say yes. ![]()
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