| When James Watson and Francis Crick | | | | that you may be able to change the |
| first discovered the structure of DNA in | | | | information flow from DNA without |
| 1953 they thought they had discovered | | | | actually changing the structure of DNA. |
| the secret of life. This complex nucleic | | | | This idea has widespread ramifications. |
| acid was capable of storing all of the | | | | It is now thought that chronic diseases |
| information necessary to produce and | | | | such as diabetes and heart disease are |
| maintain a living organism. The science | | | | not solely caused by genes but also have |
| of genetics was born and moved toward a | | | | a strong behavioral component. |
| complete understanding of the gene | | | | Information not only travels from DNA to |
| culminating in the genome project which | | | | cells but can also travel back to DNA |
| mapped the human genome in 1993. | | | | from outside sources. There is a |
| Our genes determine what our bodies look | | | | feedback loop of information flowing to |
| like and how they work. Even behavioral | | | | and from DNA. The system consists of |
| traits have been linked to our genes. | | | | more than a static one-way flow of |
| Information is thought to flow down a | | | | information but is more holistic and |
| one way street; from the DNA wellspring | | | | dynamic in nature involving feedback |
| to cells to the rest of the body. This | | | | from the organism. |
| concept of one-way information flow is | | | | A practical implication of this concept |
| even called the central dogma of | | | | is the feedback from behaviors. For |
| biology. But are we really slaves to our | | | | example, following a healthy lifestyle |
| genes? | | | | can not only provide benefits to your |
| Watson and Crick's monumental discovery | | | | wellbeing but these benefits can also be |
| was a giant step in understanding the | | | | passed on to your offspring. We have |
| inner workings of life but it was not | | | | been touting the benefits of following a |
| the whole story. The idea of a one-way | | | | healthy lifestyle for years but until |
| flow of information is now changing with | | | | recently no one knew that actual genes |
| the new science of epigenetics. | | | | could be turned on or off. |
| Epigenetics has to do with changes in | | | | This opens up a whole new realm of |
| the function of genes without changing | | | | thinking. In other words someone may |
| DNA. In other words there may be a | | | | have a gene for cancer or heart disease |
| complex information system that affects | | | | but it is possible for that gene never |
| the information flow from DNA to the | | | | to be turned on. I personally find this |
| cell without affecting the DNA itself. | | | | information hopeful in finding new ways |
| This system is affected by behavioral | | | | to live a healthy life and to heal. We |
| and environmental changes. This means | | | | are not slaves to our genes after all. |